Gilbert Burns thinks UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards will be too much for Colby Covington.
Covington (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) challenges Edwards (20-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) for the 170-pound title in the UFC 296 main event Dec. 16 in Las Vegas.
Former champion Kamaru Usman outlasted Covington in two thrilling battles, and Burns sees Edwards as a tougher stylistic matchup for Covington than Usman.
“I think it’s a good matchup for Leon to be honest because, well, Kamaru Usman had a lot of success against Colby when he was southpaw,” Burns told MMA Junkie in an interview facilitated by Stake.com. “For sure, they’re both wrestlers. It kind of changes a little bit, but Leon is very long. His reach is very big. It’s going to be easy for him to stuff the takedowns and defend and keep the fight on the feet.
“He’s way more dangerous than Kamaru, way more crispy. The hands are quicker. The kicks are good. I think he’s going to be able to defend the takedowns and kind of outstrike (Covington) because of his precision and he’s got a lot of power. He’s got a lot of pop on the kicks, and a lot of pops on the hands too. So, I do think Leon is going to win. It’s not going to be easy but, I think he’s going to get it done.”
Burns is coming off a loss to Belal Muhammad in a fight where he injured his shoulder. The former title challenger is keeping an eye on the key welterweight matchups at UFC 296, and if he’s able to draw the right name, he sees himself entering the title picture again soon.
“If I get a big name, and I go out there and beat the guy in spectacular way, I think I’m the next one for the title shot,” Burns said. “But we’ve got to wait for Belal.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 296.
