Gilbert Burns on Michael Morales UFC fight: 'I saw that coming, and I like it'
Gilbert Burns on Michael Morales UFC fight: 'I saw that coming, and I like it'
Gilbert Burns is entering UFC Fight Night 256 with a chip on his shoulder.
Burns (22-8 MMA, 15-8 UFC) takes on rising undefeated welterweight Michael Morales (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) in the May 17 main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas (ESPN+).
The former title challenger will look to snap a three-fight losing skid, most recently a unanimous decision to Sean Brady in the UFC Fight Night 242 headliner this past September. Meanwhile, Morales has finished three of his first five UFC fights, and is coming off a first-round, Performance of the Night TKO of Neil Magny at UFC on ESPN 62.
Burns has no issue with the matchmaking, but hopes he can show a better account of himself against Morales.
"I'm coming from three losses – not much to complain (about). I just want to go out there and show up and perform," Burns told MMA Junkie Radio. "I think that I lacked a little bit in my last fight. I had a little problem with the weight, with the recovery. I wasn't able to find a way to win it, but not taking anything away from Sean Brady – the guy was there and he did his thing. But I want to show up this time. I want to put all the work there, like controlling the weight now better. So I just want to go out there and put on a show. I knew that me being a veteran, being in the UFC for so long, I knew it was going to be one of the up-and-coming guys.
"My guess was it was going to be Carlos Prates or Michael Morales, and it ended up being Michael Morales. I saw that coming, and I like it. It's always me proving to myself that I belong at the top of the division, and when I see these guys, I see a very athletic guy, super young, confident, long. He has a 79-inch reach. His reach is so big for the division. I just think it's a good test. The guy has been there, he's done that, he's fought a couple of good guys. People always count out Neil Magny, but other than Neil Magny, he fought Max Griffin who's a very tough opponent. He beat Jake Matthews. He fought on the Contender Series, so he keeps showing up, he keeps doing his thing, and eventually he deserves a shot at the top 10."
"Durinho" relishes the opportunity to hand Morales his first-career loss, especially when he's facing plenty of doubters himself.
"It's always fun, especially where I'm at now, people going, 'Oh, he's going downhill.' I like it," Burns said. "I like to be in that position and fighting another super guy who's coming, undefeated, 17-0, 25 years old, very strong, this and that. I like it. For me, it's always fun: OK, let's test these guys."
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