Gilbert Burns says he will keep fighting even after four losses in a row. The veteran welterweight is headlining a fight against Mike Malott and says he still loves the sport and wants to perform at his best.
Why Burns decided to continue
Burns, who is 39 and turns 40 this year, told UFCcoverage he does not need to keep fighting for money or fame. He said he is set in life but wants to keep competing because he still believes in himself.
“I still think I can do this. I still want to do this,” Burns said. He explained that he told his coaches he wanted to return to sparring, grappling and wrestling to find the joy in training again.
As he trained, Burns said he started having fun and built his confidence back. He said he is not carrying heavy pressure into the fight. Instead, he feels confident and believes the pressure is on his opponent, Mike Malott.
Looking back at recent losses
Burns was open about the recent string of defeats. He said some of the losses came against top fighters in the welterweight division and that unfortunate moments and injuries played a part.
About his loss to Belal Muhammad, Burns said he was injured in the fight. He noted that Muhammad later became a champion. Burns also pointed to his knockout loss to Jack Della Maddalena, saying he was doing well for most of the fight until he was hit by a knee. He said Della Maddalena went on to become a champion.
Burns also mentioned losses to Sean Brady and Michael Morales, calling both men top-5 fighters in the division. He said he has done many good things in his recent fights even if the final results were not in his favor.
About the fight with Mike Malott
Burns is set to headline a fight against Mike Malott on Saturday night. He called the matchup a good test and said he plans to showcase his skills. Burns described the bout as a must-win for him, but added that he will not bring overwhelming pressure into the cage.
“I’m going to Canada. I’m going to have fun. I’m going to go out there to do my thing,” Burns said. “For sure, I want to win. For sure it’s a must-win but I’m not bringing all that heavy baggage that I’ve got to win. No, I’m going out there to do my best, showcase my skills… and I’m putting all the pressure on this guy.”
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Gilbert Burns | Four straight losses |
| Mike Malott | Scheduled to fight Burns |
Burns hopes his renewed approach to training and his enjoyment of the sport will help him end the losing streak and deliver a strong performance in the headline fight.
