Durinho wants the UFC BJJ title and promises to look for the submission against Gabriel Almeida
Retired from MMA, the Brazilian fights again on Thursday, October 8, in Las Vegas, after he won his first match by submission in less than a minute and a half
Gilbert “Durinho” Burns returns to UFC BJJ this Thursday, October 8, against Gabriel Almeida at middleweight. The match is part of UFC BJJ 12, at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. UFC BJJ is the grappling league of the UFC: the athletes fight without strikes and try to win by submission. The Brazilian is already talking about a title match.
In an interview with the website Combat Press, published on Saturday, Burns said that a submission win over Almeida would send a big message, and that a title match could come next. He also said he will be aggressive and will look for the finish from the start. “I’m ready for three rounds of war if we have to,” he said.
A submission in 1 minute and 22 seconds in his debut
Burns had his first UFC BJJ match in June, at UFC BJJ 9. He needed 1 minute and 22 seconds to submit Horlando Monteiro with a rear-naked choke, a choke from the back. In the interview, he said he expected a hard match and did not think it would end so fast.
His return to jiu-jitsu came after he retired from MMA. According to Sherdog, he announced the end of his UFC career at 39, less than two months before his grappling debut. Burns told Combat Press he is very happy that he does not fight MMA anymore. Among the reasons, he named the loss of explosiveness, his timing in striking and two concussions.
What he expects from Gabriel Almeida
Gabriel Almeida will have his first UFC BJJ match. Burns described him as an athlete with good takedowns, a good top game and dangerous leg attacks. For this match, Burns said he trains with Vagner Rocha and at Fight Sports in Miami.
Before his MMA career, Burns was an IBJJF world champion at black belt in 2011, when he beat Kron Gracie in the final.
How to watch
UFC BJJ 12 will be streamed on UFC Fight Pass at 8 p.m. ET. The event has two title matches: Cassia Moura vs. Adele Fornarino and Renato Canuto vs. Ethan Crelinsten. See the full card.
Does Durinho deserve a title match if he submits Gabriel Almeida? Leave your opinion in the comments.
