Who’s next for Gilbert Burns after Michael Morales loss?
MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn plays matchmaker and looks ahead to what makes sense for Gilbert Burns in this edition of “Sean Shelby’s Shoes.”
Gilbert Burns is keeping a positive attitude despite being placed in a difficult career position with his UFC Fight Night 256 defeat.
Former welterweight title challenger Burns (22-9 MMA, 15-9 UFC) saw his losing skid reach four consecutive bouts Saturday when he was stopped with strikes in the first round by Michael Morales (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
At 38, this string of results typically serves as a defining point for an athlete. Burns has not addressed what it could mean for his future in active competition, but in his first statement since the loss, he expressed appreciation for all the opportunities he’s received (via Instagram):
Prior to this current stretch, Burns had never lost back-to-back fights in his career. Morales became the first since 2018 to finish the Brazilian inside the first round, and moreover, was the quickest to beat at 170 pounds.
