Gilbert Burns just gave out a mega statement on fighting Colby Covington.
The prominent name in the MMA world has recently faced the most significant losing skid in his fighting career. This has influenced his decisions and views on a potential face-off against potential opponent Colby Covington.
Continue reading to find out what he has to say about this fight.
Burns, acknowledging his current standing, isn’t one to shy away from a challenge. He responded to Joaquin Buckley’s callout after his unrealistic callouts to Connor McGregor. However, due to some lingering injuries, Burns won’t be fight-ready for at least three months. He anticipates being fully cleared for training by June. Burns is eyeing a return by the end of August. Despite his setbacks, “Durinho” remains optimistic. He sees a multitude of possibilities for his next bout.
Burns mentioned that he didn’t have any names in mind, but noted that several fighters had approached him about potential matchups. He highlighted Buckley’s eagerness, along with interest from Sean Brady and Geoff Neal. Burns suggested that one of these three fighters could be his next opponent, while also mentioning Colby as a potential option.
Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) would be the preferred opponent for Burns, given his status as a multiple-time title challenger and the highest-ranked among those mentioned. However, Burns has reservations after witnessing Covington’s scheduled fight with Ian Machado Garry fall apart, fearing a similar outcome for himself.
Burns expressed his interest in a matchup with Colby, acknowledging that it’s a fight he’s always desired. However, he cited complications and drama surrounding the potential bout as deterrents. Burns referred to the recent drama involving Ian Garry’s matchup, noting that Garry might now face ‘MVP’ (Michael Page) instead. He highlighted that what was supposed to be a confirmed fight ended up being uncertain.
Burns observed that there was a lot of back-and-forth tension between those fighters, ultimately leading to the fight falling through. Consequently, he expressed his reluctance to actively pursue that matchup due to the associated drama. Burns clarified that while he would accept if the fight were offered to him, he’s not actively seeking it because he understands the challenges in getting one of the fighters to commit to a deal. Despite his enthusiasm for the fight, he emphasized that it’s not one he’s actively chasing.
What do you think of his decision? Is he playing safe considering his current situation or is he just scared of fighting Covington? Let us know in the comments!
