‘I’ve Still Got A Lot Of Challenges’

Unfortunately, he was unable to do so.

Burns was never able to get much going throughout the fight. Malott won the striking exchanges throughout for as long as the fight lasted, and it all culminated in a third-round technical knockout (TKO), leaving the Brazilian bomber battered, bruised and retired.

Indeed, an emotional Burns put his gloves down on the canvas, and was joined by his family and then confirmed his retirement from the fight game after five straight losses on the post-fight show.

“I was crazy confident I was going to get the win,” Burns said (via MMA Fighting). “I was 1,000 percent confident that I was going to win. I knew if something goes wrong, I don’t want to do this no more. Not because of anyone. Because I’m not showing my 100 percent. Maybe the age or whatever but I feel a little stuck. The fire is still there but I’m still a little stuck. I cannot let go.

“If I cannot win, if I cannot show everything that I have, I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to get just a paycheck. I try and I gave everything and if I cannot do it, then I cannot do it. It’s fine. We move on. I’ve still got a lot of challenges that I want to go through.”

Soon to be 40, perhaps walking away from the fight game is the best thing for the man they call “Durinho,” but I do foresee him returning to active competition or another, as there are plenty of avenues a fighter can go down that doesn’t involve getting punched or kicked in the face — though taking a tumble off a stage isn’t out of the ordinary.

While he didn’t exactly have a Hall of Fame career, Burns can walk away with his head held high knowing he gave it his all, and even gave current UFC Middleweight champion, Khamzat Chimaev, his toughest test to date.

What will you remember most about his lengthy combat career?

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