Oh boy, Gilbert Burns sure had a rough go recently. He’s decided to pump the brakes a bit after that brutal knockout in March. You know, the one by Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 299. Ouch.
Before that, he faced a unanimous decision defeat against Belal Muhammad last May. Talk about a tough stretch.
Now, he’s eyeing a return. Maybe around August or so. He’s been in the cage four times in just over a year. That’s no small feat.
In a chat with The Schmo, Burns laid out his plans. “A little time off,” he said. Can’t blame him after that war with Della Maddalena. He gave props to Jack, calling him a “monster” for that knockout win. But August? Burns is looking at it with hope in his eyes.
He’s got his ears open for callouts, too. Sean Brady, Geoff Neal, and Joaquin Buckley have all thrown their hats in the ring. Buckley’s callout came right after he beat Burns’ buddy, Vicente Luque, at UFC on ESPN 54.
Burns is keeping a cool head about it. “We’ll see who,” he mentioned, all smiles. Despite the callouts, he’s staying humble. After two consecutive losses, he’s not in the driver’s seat to pick and choose.
“Buckley’s got his style, I respect that,” Burns said, shrugging off any trash talk. He’s eyeing August for his return, ready to sign whoever’s name ends up on the contract. It’s all about getting back in there and showing what he’s made of.