Gilbert Burns Confident He Fights Jorge Masvidal Next

Gilbert Burns says his fight with Jorge Masvidal is getting closer to happening.

Burns has wanted to fight with Masvidal for a long time. He keeps asking for this fight, and Masvidal also looks like he wants this fight if Conor McGregor refuses to fight with him.

“Nothing done yet – a lot of talks about the fight with Masvidal – he verbally agreed. I did too,” Burns told MMA Junkie.

“They’re just figuring out the date. No date yet. November was too close, … so December or January. At least I know I have an opponent. Just figuring out the date right now.”

“No. 1 would be MSG in November, but then he said no for that date,” Burns said. “Now December or January, I can wait like 20 more days to go to Brazil. I’m looking forward to go to the Brazil card.”

Despite recently losing to Khamzat Chimaev in April, Burns (20-5) remains as the No. 4 seed in UFC’s welterweight rankings.

Burns has earned notable wins against Stephen Thompson in 2021 and Tyron Woodley in 2020. But he encountered defeat when he met Usman in February 2021, losing by KO/TKO, and most recently, to Chimaev, which he lost by unanimous decision.

But Masvidal also hasn’t seen victory in a while.

He is 0-3 in his last three fights, but they came from Usman (twice) and Colby Covington. Usman lost his welterweight title to Leon Edwards by knockout on Saturday, shaking up the welterweight division.

“Even though he’s coming from losses, it’s just from Kamaru (Usman) and Colby (Covington) – it’s not like, ‘Oh, he’s been destroyed,'” Burns said.

“He lost to two of the best guys in the division, so I don’t look down on him. It’s going to be a good fight. Entertaining, both guys coming from a loss, and I want to take his head off.”