UFC welterweight Gilbert Burns admitted that a specific defeat on his record bothers him significantly more than others.
He is scheduled to compete in the main event of UFC Vegas 106 at the Apex this Saturday. The seasoned competitor is looking to rebound after a period where consistent wins have been hard to come by.
Since his memorable attempt at an upset title win against Kamaru Usman in 2021, where he knocked Usman down early, Burns` record in the Octagon stands at a negative 3-4.
Having lost his last three bouts, the Brazilian fighter is currently experiencing the most challenging phase of his professional MMA career in terms of results.
Although any loss is difficult, Burns recently confessed that one particular defeat was more painful than the rest.
Gilbert Burns Reflects Honestly on His Performance Against Sean Brady
During the UFC Vegas 106 media day on Wednesday, Burns discussed his upcoming fight and evaluated his standing within the welterweight ranks.
He spoke about the outcomes that have moved him away from title contention. Burns` most recent defeat was against Sean Brady, and this particular loss caused him the greatest frustration.
Burns commented on his recent losses:
“Looking at these fights… in the Belal Muhammad fight, I got injured within the first two minutes. It happened, and it`s not his fault; he went in there and defeated me.”
Regarding the Jack Della Maddalena bout, he said, “I was executing many things correctly until I wasn`t. There are no excuses. You can say, `Oh, I was winning,` but I didn`t secure the win.”
However, the loss to Sean Brady was different: “But the most recent one was where I felt like, `Man, I didn`t perform.` That one was the most bothersome. All three losses still bother me, but I just need to make small adjustments.”
Gilbert Burns Faces Undefeated Prospect Michael Morales in Bid to End Losing Streak
The event in Las Vegas this Saturday presents Burns with his next chance to return to the win column, though securing a victory will be a significant challenge.
His opponent is Michael Morales, an undefeated prospect from Ecuador with a perfect 17-0 professional record, including five wins in the UFC.
The 25-year-old is fresh off a dominant first-round knockout victory over veteran welterweight Neil Magny, an opponent both Morales and Burns have faced.
Burns is expected to be a notable underdog at UFC Vegas 106. Having previously delivered strong performances as an underdog against fighters like Usman and Khamzat Chimaev, the Brazilian aims to go one step further this time and secure a win against Morales.
Gareth Pendleton