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.’
