Gilbert Burns is focused on his upcoming fight against Mike Malott after suffering four consecutive losses. He acknowledges the pressure to win but aims to keep expectations realistic.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 07: Gilbert Burns of Brazil prepares to face Sean Brady in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on September 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) | Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Gilbert Burns knows heās going to get bombarded with questions about his future as he seeks to bounce back from four straight losses when he faces Mike Malott in the UFC Winnipeg main event.
After nearly a year away from competition, the one-time UFC welterweight title challenger isnāt oblivious to the narrative about the pressure that comes along with avoiding a fifth consecutive defeat. That said, Burns is choosing to put the spotlight back on his opponent rather than ratcheting up unrealistic expectations when heās already accomplished so much in his career.
āIāve got to go into this fight with no pressure,ā Burns told MMA Fighting. āFor sure itās a lot of pressure, Iāve got to win, Iāve got to get there. Iām already visualizing getting in the octagon and having that vibe of the de ja vu, the last time wasnāt good, the last couple times wasnāt good. But right after the [Michael] Morales fight, I took a little break, I needed to recover and spend time with the family.
āWhen we got back, I sat down with the team [I said] I still believe I can do this but Iāve got to change some little things around. Iāve got to get my confidence back. That was a major thing during the whole camp. Getting that confidence back and feeling relaxed in there.ā
Nobody enjoys losing but Burns recognizes that his recent setbacks have all come against elite competition in the welterweight division. Heās not making an excuses because ultimately he needs to stop the bleeding with a win but thereās no denying that heās been going up against the absolute best of the best at 170 pounds.
āBecause the Belal [Muhammad] fight, I got injured. No problem, I lost, Belal did his thing, became a champion right after that,ā Burns explained. āLost to Jack [Della Maddalena], was doing good for freaking 14 minutes until I ate a knee, got knocked out. Jack became a champion. Sean Brady, top five. Michael Morales, top five.
Gilbert Burns is currently on a losing streak with four consecutive losses.
Gilbert Burns is set to face Mike Malott in the UFC Winnipeg main event.
Burns has taken a break after his last fight to recover and spend time with family before facing Malott.
Burns feels the pressure to avoid a fifth consecutive loss but is trying to focus on the fight itself rather than external expectations.
Mariners face Padres tonight in Game #20 after tough loss.
Dovlet Yagshimuradov spoils Tyson Pedro's PFL debut with a unanimous decision win!
See every story in Sports ā including breaking news and analysis.
āThese guys are the highest level in the division. So Iāve been doing a lot of good things too but the results werenāt there.ā
Coming back from those losses and preparing for UFC Winnipeg, Burns sat down to have a heart-to-heart with his coaches to ensure he was making the right decision to compete again.
His passion for fighting never wavered but Burns knows there are a lot of fighters who stick around well past their expiration date and heās never wanted that for himself or his family.
ā[I told all the coaches] I still think I can do this. I still want to do this,ā Burns said. āI donāt need to do this. Iām set but I want to do this. I still believe it. So letās get back to sparring, letās get back to training. Before you get a date, letās get back to sparring, letās grapple a lot, letās wrestle a lot. You want to get in good conditioning, great shape and thatās what I did. As I was sparring, I got back to having fun a little bit. Not just sparring for the fight but sparring a little bit before and having fun with this, grappling and everything and then it got to a point where I still had fun doing this. Not just pressure āIāve got to win!ā No, honestly, the way Iām going into this fight, Iām way more confident but all the pressure is on freaking Mike Malott.
āIām telling you. Iām 40 this year. I had a good career already. Iām going to Canada. Iām going to have fun. Iām going to go out there to do my thing. For sure, I want to win. For sure itās a must-win but Iām not bringing all that heavy baggage that Iāve got to win. No, Iām going out there to do my best, showcase my skills. I do believe itās a good matchup. Itās nothing easy but it is a good matchup and Iām putting all the pressure on this guy.ā
Outside of fighting, Burns is busier than ever before.
Heās preparing to open a gym in Florida ā something Burns honestly never thought would happen ā and thatās on top of coaching at Kill Cliff, doing podcasts and analyst work while also raising a family with three sons.
In theory, Burns could walk away from fighting tomorrow and heād be completely satisfied with the resume heās put together but heās not setting a time limit on how much longer he plans to compete. Instead, heās following a similar path as retired welterweight Matt Brown, who decided to call it a career after receiving a fight offer from the UFC and not feeling that same level of anticipation and excitement as he did in the past.
āI do have a lot going on outside of fighting but I like to fight but the results got to be there,ā Burns said. āI still plan on doing a couple more but Iām playing it by ear just like Matt Brown. I heard that interview and I was looking to say itās exactly like that. I cannot put a date. When Iām 36 [Iāll retire]. No, youāve got to go and when the guys call you and [say] ādo you want to fight this guy?ā and if I donāt feel it, Iām done.
āItās not a date. It can be any moment from now on. But I do believe April 18, Iām putting a great performance on there, Iām training my butt off. No stone unturned for this camp. Iām putting everything [into it]. Sparring the hardest guys. Having good rounds. Grappling, wrestling, striking, everything in my power to be out there. I know if Iām there April 18, relaxed with a good mindset, knowing thereās a little bit of pressure but thatās OK, weāre here. Get in the octagon, feel a little bit, let that pressure go, let that first minute go and feel at home, I know I can get a win.ā
Burns also believes thereās going to be plenty riding on this fight for Malott, who has long been tabbed as the next big thing coming out of Canada but this is definitely his biggest test to date.
āIāve done a lot of main events. This is your first main event,ā Burns said about Malott. āThatās your hometown. Youāve going to try to get in the rankings. Itās all on you. Letās go. Thatās where my mindās at.
āIām still on that level. I hope everything goes my way and we get a good win and then kind of relax. Then weāll see whatās next.ā