Gilbert Burns finds himself at a critical juncture heading into UFC Vegas 106, having recently suffered three consecutive defeats for the first time in his 13-year fighting career. He views his upcoming Saturday fight against the highly touted, undefeated welterweight Michael Morales (17-0) as the ideal starting point for what he envisions as a comeback story worthy of a movie.
Burns is set to headline the UFC Fight Night card in Las Vegas. The event was relocated after initially being planned for the UFC 315 lineup in Canada the previous weekend. “Durinho,” as Burns is known, mentioned that the fight date had been rescheduled multiple times before finally landing at the UFC APEX venue.
“But it was good,” Burns commented. “Because it gave me more time to prepare and study this guy.”
Since the beginning of 2020, Burns has maintained one of the most active fight schedules in the UFC. During this busy period, he challenged then-champion Kamaru Usman and faced a string of prominent opponents including Demian Maia, Tyron Woodley, Stephen Thompson, Khamzat Chimaev, Jorge Masvidal, Belal Muhammad, Jack Della Maddalena, and Sean Brady. The decorated jiu-jitsu world champion holds a 5-5 record across these recent bouts and found himself needing difficult discussions following his latest setback.
After “Durinho” lost a decision to Brady in a recent fight (Editor`s note: Original text stated September 2024, which is likely a typo; paraphrased as `recent loss`), Vagner Rocha, a jiu-jitsu veteran who had previously stepped away from cornering after witnessing knockout losses involving Burns and Marlon Moraes, reached out to offer guidance.
“He was black and white, hard honest talk, speaking truths that I needed to hear. It was hard to listen, actually,” Burns stated about Rocha`s feedback. Rocha addressed Burns` training, potential, areas where he was falling short, necessary changes, and managing injuries. This candid conversation occurred late last year. Rocha then expressed his willingness to rejoin Burns` corner team, but only with full dedication. This renewed partnership has significantly impacted Burns` training, leading to a notable increase in jiu-jitsu focus.
That pivotal conversation prompted substantial “internal changes,” particularly regarding his coaching staff, which has helped Burns overcome the lingering negative feelings from his previous loss.
Reflecting on the fight against Brady, Burns admitted, “I didn’t make weight well, I didn’t recovered well, I fought with no energy.” He felt that wasn`t the real “Durinho.” He differentiated this from losses to Belal (which he accepted due to injury) and Jack (where he was winning before being knocked out, which he sees as part of fighting). He explained that while mistakes in prior losses were fixable, the Brady fight left a deep sense of dissatisfaction, necessitating changes not just for performance in the fight itself but to ensure he could perform at his usual standard.
For his preparation against Morales, Burns brought in Lucas Catta Preta, cousin of Vicente Luque, as his nutritionist. Henry Hooft took the lead on the training camp, supported by scouting assistance from Daniel Mendes based in Brazil. Furthermore, Burns trained with taller, longer-limbed fighters such as Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Garry to prepare for Morales` reach. These extensive preparations have left Burns feeling highly confident heading into their scheduled 25-minute battle.
Burns elaborated on his strategy for the fight: “I have to be smart and follow the strategy we have planned because he’s a very athletic guy.” He pointed out Morales` strength, explosiveness, and exceptional reach for the welterweight division, recognizing him as dangerous in the early rounds. Burns suspects that Morales sometimes relies more on athleticism, reflexes, and speed than pure technique. The plan, according to Burns, is to “drown him” to neutralize his explosive attributes. Burns intends to utilize movement, takedowns, control, and a blend of strong defense and attacks, leveraging his extensive experience. He believes this approach is the key to victory.
While four consecutive losses would be a significant concern, especially as he approaches his 39th birthday, Burns remains confident that his position within the UFC is secure even if the outcome is unfavorable. Despite this, “Durinho” approaches UFC Vegas 106 with firm belief in his ability to win. His competitive performance against Jack Della Maddalena, who recently captured the welterweight title in Montreal, strengthens Burns` conviction that he is only a few minor adjustments away from being at the top of the division.
“This is the fight to go back to the winning track,” Burns asserted. He acknowledged that the fight might not immediately improve his ranking but deemed it irrelevant, citing Della Maddalena`s rapid ascent to becoming a top 4 contender and subsequently fighting for and winning the belt after defeating him. Burns recognizes his current position off a loss but remains confident in his ability to beat Morales. “I have confidence. I believe I will beat him,” he stated, recognizing it as a risk for both fighters – Burns seeking to rebound and Morales aiming to continue his rise.
He continued, expressing his belief that he is just “two wins away from the mix” at the top of the division. Burns highlighted that his recent losses have only come against elite opponents: former champion Kamaru Usman, future title challenger Khamzat Chimaev, former champion Belal Muhammad, current champion Jack Della Maddalena, and currently ranked #1 contender Sean Brady. He feels his willingness to face top competition is respected by the UFC. Burns is convinced he is on the right path and needs to regain winning momentum and trust the adjustments he`s implemented. He firmly believes a strong victory over Morales will put him back into contention. He envisions one more significant win leading to a scenario “like a movie.” “Imagine that, Durinho champion, that’s a movie,” he said. He concluded by emphasizing that turning this vision into reality depends on his belief and effort: “It’s on me to believe and turn this movie into reality. Let’s work, let’s do our best to make this happen.”
