RIO DE JANEIRO – UFC 283 hasn’t even happened yet, but simply getting to fight week was a bit of a logistical struggle for Gilbert Burns.
While some might thinks Burns (20-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) would be a tad disappointed to fight UFC 283 opponent Neil Magny (27-9 MMA, 20-8 UFC), rather than partake in a potential title eliminator sort of bout, that’s not the case. Burns initially wanted the highest-ranked fighters available, but when none agreed to fight him, his participation on the card Saturday in Rio de Janeiro looked unlikely. That is, until Magny volunteered.
“I was frustrated because after the Khamzat fight,” Burns told reporters including MMA Junkie at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “I went to the office. I had a great meeting with Dana and Hunter. They said they were going to give me a big fight. We kind of got on the same page. The name was Masvidal. The fight was offered to November then December. Time was passing, then I saw they scheduled a card in Brazil. I said, ‘I’m back in Brazil.’ I said, ‘You guys want me there?’ They said, ‘Yes.’
“So we got a fight here. I was just waiting for the opponent. They tried Masvidal. I don’t know what happened. Then, they tried Belal Muhammad, too, but they didn’t accept. I was so happy because I was watching that event and Neil Magny called me out. I just called Ali and texted Dana and said, ‘Hey, if everyone says no, I’ll fighting this guy. I don’t care.’ It got to a point where, ‘Just give me someone.’ I’m happy that it’s Neil Magny and he stepped up. I like that.”
While the potential Masvidal showdown was a topic of conversation in news headlines and on social media, Muhammad, and circumstances around him, seemed to bug Burns more.
Muhammad (22-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) is 8-0 with one no contest in his most recent nine fights, including victories over Sean Brady and Stephen Thompson among others. Burns acknowledged Muhammad’s recent success, but can’t wrap his head around why Muhammad surpassed him in the official UFC rankings.
“How the heck Belal Muhammed beat Sean Brady, I have nothing to do with that, and he passes me in the rankings?” Burns said. “I got it. OK, he’s got a couple wins. But he never beat me. Why did he take my place? And he declined the fight when they offered we fight each other here in Rio, ‘Oh no.’ Why no? Because he got my place but I think if he was still No. 5, he’d say, ‘Yes.’ That’s one thing that I don’t like. It’s out of my control, but it’s a little frustrating to me. How the f*ck did this guy pass me in the ranks? He never beat me and he doesn’t want to fight me. Why?”
For now, Burns won’t concern himself with matchmaking. He has a task in front of him. That’s Magny, a gritty and fearless veteran who has fought a host of the top UFC welterweights over the past decade.
“It’s been hard to keep my focus on it because everybody asks, ‘What’s next?’ I said, ‘There’s no next.’ I can say, ‘Next is Colby (Covington). Next is this guy.’ But if I lose to Neil Magny, then I’m four steps behind. I’m focused on this guy,” Burns said. “This guy is long, 6’3″, good range, experienced for a lot of guys. I’m kind of expecting he’ll try to throw a lot of knees, try to stay on the outside. If I rush to come in, I think I’m going to kind of clinch a little bit. He’s very smart. I’m not overlooking this guy. I’m not passing Neil Magny, for sure. I think he’s very tough. I give him all the credit. I’m thankful he stepped up and he’s here in Brazil. I’m ready for a war if I have to go to it.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 283.
