Herbert Burns hopes to clear one final hurdle to say UFC contract

Herbert Burns thought he had his probability with the UFC locked up again in April. He was on the principle card in a outstanding struggle at Titan FC in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Sitting cageside was UFC president Dana White, with the cameras rolling for White’s “Lookin’ For A Struggle” present.

With a powerful efficiency, fighters competing on “Lookin’ For A Struggle” can instantly get signed to a contract, which is how Sage Northcutt and Mickey Gall acquired into the UFC.

Burns did his half. He took down opponent Luis Gomez proper off the opening bell, took his again and completed with a rear-naked choke submission at 2:24 of the primary spherical. White and present co-stars Matt Serra and Din Thomas appreciated the hassle. White stated Burns gained “in spectacular trend.” Serra stated the bout was primarily over in 10 seconds.

Valentina Shevchenko will not be missing motivation on Saturday. Not solely will the dominant UFC ladies’s flyweight champion put her title on the road in opposition to Liz Carmouche in Montevideo, Uruguay, she’ll even have an opportunity at revenge. Earlier than they landed within the UFC, Carmouche defeated Shevchenko by TKO 9 years in the past.

UFC Struggle Evening: Shevchenko vs. Carmouche
• Saturday, Montevideo, Uruguay
• Prelims: ESPN+, 5 p.m. ET
• Important card: ESPN+, Eight p.m. ET

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Whereas it wasn’t sufficient to earn him a UFC contract, White supplied Burns a spot on “Dana White’s Contender Collection.” On Tuesday, Burns fights Darrick Minner in Las Vegas. White can be watching cageside as soon as once more, and if the boss is blown away this time, Burns may stroll away with that elusive UFC deal.

“I assumed they might get me straight to the roster,” Burns instructed ESPN. “However [White] needs me to win on Contender Collection. That was the one possibility. I am like, OK. It is by no means been straightforward for me — nothing is simple for me. I felt like if that is the way in which it must be finished, let’s do it this fashion.”

Burns, whose brother Gilbert is a UFC light-weight, is used to waging an uphill battle. Herbert went 5-Zero with ONE Championship from 2013 to 2015, culminating in a first-round end of Timofey Nastyukhin, the fighter who went on to knock out Eddie Alvarez in Alvarez’s ONE debut. Three of Burns’ 5 straight victories have been through first-round end. Burns appeared destined for a featherweight title shot.

It by no means got here collectively, even after Burns held out for 17 months. Burns stated he is nonetheless not totally certain what occurred, however he has speculated it is as a result of he left Singapore’s Evolve MMA fitness center, which is owned by ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong.

When Burns did return, it was after ONE modified its weight-cutting guidelines, which restrict the quantity of weight that may be misplaced with a number of exams to measure each weight and hydration within the lead-up to a struggle. The brand new guidelines pressured him to compete at 155 kilos as an alternative of 145. After shedding two straight selections, Burns departed ONE when his contract expired.

Burns (Eight-2), who’s initially from Brazil, traveled to the US in pursuit of the following stage of his profession. However new environment got here with new struggles as he sought out a coaching camp and promotion to struggle for. It took greater than a 12 months, however Burns ultimately discovered Arduous Knocks 365 in Fort Lauderdale, the place he now lives and trains. He settled in with Florida-based Titan FC and returned to featherweight in his first struggle in 16 months in December 2018. He has since gained two fights in a row — each by submission.

Herbert Burns is about for a chance to win a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Collection Supplied by UFC

Nicknamed “The Blaze,” the 31-year-old Burns is a grappler like his older brother and a two-time nationwide no-gi Jiu-Jitsu champion in Brazil. Final 12 months, Burns gained the bronze medal on the Worldwide Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation Pan American no-gi championship.

Jiu-jitsu will at all times be one in all his biggest strengths, however the lengthy layoffs have had some ancillary profit — they’ve allowed Burns time to develop expertise standing up. He has been sharpening his putting with coach Henri Hooft and former Glory kickboxing champion Robin van Roosmalen at Arduous Knocks.

“He’s a sniper within the standup,” Gilbert Burns instructed ESPN. “Guys gotta begin to look out for that.”

This struggle with Minner may very well be a very good matchup stylistically for Burns. Minner has 22 profession wins, with 19 coming by submission. He is a wrestler and grappler. Burns notes, although, that Minner has additionally been submitted six occasions.

“If I used to be him, I might attempt to maintain the struggle on the toes,” Herbert Burns stated. “He believes in his grappling recreation, he is a wrestler. … If the struggle lasts, ultimately we’ll the bottom. And I feel my grappling is simply on one other stage. If he goes to the bottom, he will not have a very good night time.”

If it goes to plan, it may very well be sufficient to wow White and earn a UFC contract. However Burns will not take something with no consideration.

“My entire life I have been working for [the UFC],” Burns stated. “I’ve fought in massive promotions earlier than, however not just like the UFC. It has the very best fighters. I am very excited. I am able to make an announcement.”

Dana White’s Contender Collection, Week 7

Bantamweight: Dwight Joseph (9-1, Liberia, 29 years previous) vs. Jay Perrin (Eight-Three, New Hampshire, 26)

Flyweight: Marilia Santos (10-2, Brazil, 26) vs. Lucrezia Ria (7-2, Italy, 27)

Featherweight: Herbert Burns (Eight-2, Brazil, 31) vs. Darrick Minner (22-9, Nebraska, 29)

Middleweight: Taylor Johnson (5-Zero, California, 29) vs. Andre Muniz (17-Four, Brazil, 29)

Light-weight: Omar Morales (7-Zero, Venezuela, 33) vs. Harvey Park (12-2, New Mexico, 33)