LAS VEGAS â Gilbert Burns insists the UFC offered him Jorge Masvidal on numerous occasions.
Masvidal (35-16 MMA, 12-9 UFC) denied ever being offered to fight Burns at UFC 281 on Nov. 12, UFC 282 this past Saturday or UFC 283 on Jan. 21, but Burns (20-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) is calling shenanigans.
Although he was eager to face Masvidal next, an idea Burns says the UFC was all for, Burns decided to move on when the fight didnât come to fruition. Instead, âDurinhoâ has been booked against Neil Magny at UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro.
âHe was lying, for sure, or Hunter (Campbell) and the UFC were lying,â Burns told MMA Junkie and other reporters at UFC 282. âI donât believe they were, but they offered me Jorge. âYou want to fight Jorge?â That was the question. âYou want to fight Jorge Masvidal at MSG?â You guys know what Iâm saying. I said, âFor sure.'â
Masvidal is scheduled for a Feb. 27 trial date for his alleged attack on Colby Covington in March in Miami Beach. He faces charges on single counts of aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm and criminal mischief. If found guilty, Masvidal could face up to 15 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
Burns is coming off a war against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 273 in April in which he pushed the unbeaten star to the brink. Chimaev has been linked to a bout with Colby Covington, but Burns thinks Chimaev will either end up rematching him or facing Belal Muhammad.
âI think that fight is not happening,â Burns said. âI donât know. I think it will be me or Belal â I think one of us. I donât think Colbyâs fighting. It donât look like it. That thing with Jorge is going to a different direction. I just think that fight, Khamzat and Colby, is not happening. Thatâs why I want to beat Neil Magny in Brazil and weâll see whatâs next.â
McGregor vs Masvidal makes the most sense. That does massive sales and both are coming off of a few losses in a row. Stylistically would be very fun, most likely no threat of a takedown from either. The result could also go either way. Honestly donât know who Iâd pick to win that. It is a non title fight that could easily headline a PPV and no one would complain.
DANA ALREADY SHUT THAT IDEA DOWN. CANâT RISK ONE OF YOUR FEW $$ DRAWS LOSING A FIGHT.
I feel theyâve squeezed all the juice out of Mas possible at this point. They probably throw him in a hail mary matchup against Leon, though. Just due to the story line between the two.
Masvidal trying to protect himself at all costs. The only fights heâll accept right now are Conor or Leon for the belt
Canât blame masvidal for not fighting Burns though - thereâs a lot of risk vs Burns and little upside if he beats him.
Masvidal vs Neal or Pereira are fun but Jorge wouldnât take those
Conor just does nothing to move the needle for me at this point.
McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC), a former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion who hasnât competed since he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier in their July 2021 trilogy fight, has fallen out of the UFC rankings after a run of more than eight years.
He held the No. 14 spot at 155 pounds, but the latest UFC rankings update does not have McGregor anywhere to be found.
Itâs the first time McGregor doesnât have a place in the rankings since after his second promotional appearance in August 2013, when he beat Max Holloway at UFC Fight Night 26. After that win, McGregor broke into the rankings at No. 12 in the featherweight division ahead of his first UFC headliner against Diego Brandao in July 2014.
Huh? With his drawing power and a win over the #1 contender would likely get him another title shot.
He probably gets Leon without all that, tho.
Michael Bispingâs opinion means very little to me after he said he still thinks Darren till can be a champion
Judas wants a big name and easy fight. Burns ainât it.
I also think UFC doesnât want it and possibly only offered it to Burns, not Judas. So he could be telling the truth about not being offered