Gilbert Burns finds himself at a pivotal moment heading into UFC Vegas 106, facing the challenge of his first three-fight losing streak in a career spanning 13 years. He views his upcoming bout on Saturday against the highly-touted, undefeated welterweight Michael Morales (17-0) as the perfect opportunity to initiate a dramatic, movie-esque comeback.
Burns is set to headline the UFC Fight Night card in Las Vegas. The fight was initially planned for UFC 315 in Canada but was rescheduled. “Durinho” noted that the date had been adjusted multiple times before, moving from Miami and other locations before landing at the UFC APEX.
Despite the changes, Burns stated that the delays were beneficial, providing him with additional time for preparation and opponent analysis.
Since the beginning of 2020, Burns has been one of the UFC`s most active fighters, competing against a lineup of elite opponents including former champion Kamaru Usman, Demian Maia, Tyron Woodley, Stephen Thompson, Khamzat Chimaev, Jorge Masvidal, Belal Muhammad, Jack Della Maddalena, and Sean Brady. The accomplished jiu-jitsu world champion holds a 5-5 record over this demanding period. His recent setbacks prompted difficult discussions about his career path.
Following his decision loss to Sean Brady in September 2024, Vagner Rocha, a seasoned jiu-jitsu practitioner who had previously stopped cornering fighters after witnessing intense knockout losses, reached out to Burns with frank feedback.
Burns described Rocha`s input as “black and white, hard honest talk,” delivering necessary truths that were challenging to hear. Rocha addressed various aspects, including training, potential, overlooked areas, injuries, and more. This conversation took place late last year. Rocha then offered to work with Burns again, but emphasized the need for total commitment. This renewed partnership has significantly altered Burns` training regimen, leading to a greater emphasis on jiu-jitsu.
The discussion initiated numerous internal shifts within Burns` training team, helping him move past the disappointing loss to Brady.
Reflecting on the Brady fight, Burns admitted he struggled with weight cutting and recovery, resulting in a performance lacking energy, unlike his usual self. He contrasted it with other losses, like the one to Belal Muhammad, where injury was a factor, or the Jack Della Maddalena fight, where he was winning before a knockout – viewing these as understandable outcomes or fixable errors. However, the Brady fight felt different, prompting the crucial need for changes not necessarily in fighting style, but in preparation to enable peak performance.
For his upcoming camp, Burns enlisted Lucas Catta Preta (cousin of Vicente Luque) as his nutritionist, with Henry Hooft leading the training and Daniel Mendes providing scouting support remotely from Brazil. Training alongside tall, rangy fighters such as Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Garry has left Burns feeling highly confident heading into his scheduled 25-minute showdown with Morales.
Burns recognizes Morales` athleticism, power, explosiveness, and exceptional reach for the welterweight division, noting he will be particularly dangerous in the early rounds. He suspects Morales` success sometimes stems more from natural athleticism, reflexes, and speed than pure technique. Burns` strategy is to counter this by “drowning” Morales` explosiveness through smart movement, timely takedowns, control, strong defense, and well-executed attacks, leveraging his extensive experience to secure the win.
Facing a potential fourth consecutive loss would be significant, especially nearing his 39th birthday, but Burns remains secure in his position within the promotion. He approaches UFC Vegas 106 with strong belief in his ability to emerge victorious. His recent competitive performance against Jack Della Maddalena, who recently captured the welterweight title, reinforces Burns` conviction that he is only minor adjustments away from competing at the very top of the division.
Burns sees the Morales fight as the necessary step to return to winning form, acknowledging it might not immediately elevate his ranking but stressing its importance. He points out that Della Maddalena climbed to the top ranks and won the title after defeating him. Despite coming off a loss, Burns trusts his ability to beat Morales, viewing the match as a calculated risk for both fighters: Burns seeking a comeback, and Morales aiming to continue his ascent.
He feels just two wins away from re-entering the title picture. Burns highlights that his recent losses were exclusively to elite opponents – former champions or current top contenders – suggesting the UFC respects his willingness to face the best. He believes he is on the right path and needs to validate the changes he has made by getting back to winning ways. A strong performance against Morales, he feels, will put him back in contention. Another significant victory after that, he envisions, could turn his journey into a compelling “movie” – the ultimate dream of becoming champion. He understands that bringing this cinematic goal to reality rests entirely on his own belief and effort.
