Gilbert Burns is seeking a finish of Belal Muhammad to solidify himself as top UFC welterweight contender.
Burns (22-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC) meets Muhammad (22-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) in a five-round co-main event at UFC 288 on May 6 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Burns says both he and Muhammad requested 25 minutes, and his reason for asking is simple.
“Because now I can get a finish,” Burns told Submission Radio. “If I want to solidify myself as the No. 1 contender, I’ve got to take this guy out. I’ve been asking for five rounds, even with the Chimaev fight, with the Jorge (Masvidal) fight, with the Neil Magny fight I asked for five rounds. They didn’t give it to me. But this time he asked, as well. So when he asked for it, I said now we’re doing five rounds.”
Muhammad is unbeaten in his past nine fights and had a strong case for a title shot before the UFC opted to declare Colby Covington the No.1 contender for champion Leon Edwards. So with both Burns and Muhammad vying for a title shot, Burns sees a finish as the best way to make his case.
“With Belal Muhammad, I’m putting this guy away,” Burns said. “I don’t care how many rounds it takes, but I’m putting this guy out of there. There is no way he’s going 25 minutes with me. So that’s the main reason to go five rounds, just to put this guy out and get a finish.”
Prior to their fight coming together, Burns says Muhammad requested a catchweight bout. Muhammad is coming off 30 days of fasting for the month of Ramadan, but “Durinho” showed no empathy – not when there are title implications.
“He didn’t even ask for 175. He asked for 185,” Burns said. “And like I said, I changed a lot of habits. I used to go up to 200, 205 after camp. Now I’m staying 187, 188 walking around. And this guy now wants to go middleweight? Like, I get it. You’re Muslim, you do your Ramadan, but at the same time, I don’t care. I’m not Muslim. You do whatever you want. I respect it. It’s not that I’m talking sh*t. You do whatever you have to do. But (don’t) ask for an excuse, ‘Oh, let me.’ No, I don’t care.
“He was the first one that threw it out, ‘Oh, May 6 let’s fight.’ OK, let’s fight. ‘Oh, but I need.’ No, I’m not giving no favor to you. I’m not your friend. Like, if we’re friends, we’re going out, gonna do something, can you pay that for me? Yeah, you’re my friend. I pay for you. You’re not my friend. We’re going to a war. Why should I help you and give you anything? I don’t care. If you cannot make weight, don’t say that you are ready.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 288.
