“He’s Mixing Ego With Confidence” – Gilbert Burns Trashes Tyron Woodley

Streaking Welterweight contender Gilbert Burns strongly believes he will fight Tyron Woodley soon. However, he didn’t seem too excited about the pairing. That is because he believes the ‘beast’ that ruled over the 170-pounds division is no more present in Woodley.

Speaking to MMA Junkie, Burns eviscerated the reasons why he feels Woodley has experienced a decline in performance. He believes that the limelight has played a detrimental role in the former champ’s life. “The guy used to be a beast, he looked scary, but who’s that guy?” Burns said. “He doesn’t look like that anymore. Last time we saw him in the octagon, he didn’t look like that. He looked bad.”

“And that’s Tyron Woodley right now. He has so much distraction in his life right now with TMZ, rapping, acting, the whole thing. I think he’s just surrounded himself with egos and famous people,” Gilbert added.

Burns is coming off a first-round knockout of Demian Maia. The fight took place at UFC Brasilia. The next event, UFC London was postponed due to the spread of Coronavirus. Since Woodley’s scheduled opponent, Leon Edwards, couldn’t make it across the ocean, UFC made some desperate attempts to salvage the card.

That involved linking Woodley’s name with Burns briefly for a fight. The fight never materialized. However, that didn’t make the No. 6 ranked welterweight disappointed.

Gilbert Burns ‘has a feeling’ he will be fighting Tyron Woodley this year

After the UFC London fiasco happened, “Durinho” blamed Woodley for not accepting the fight. He feels that the latter has been ducking him for a while. “That’s (Woodley) who I want next, but probably he’s going to keep doing what he’s doing and keep ducking me,” Burns said. He added that he respected teammate, Kamaru Usman because he has earned his position fighting.

A few days back, Michael Chiesa and Gilbert Burns agreed to a fight on Twitter. Similarly, Woodley and the former interim champ, Colby Covington, have also been linked to a fight together. Burns doesn’t mind all these developments. That is because he has a feeling that somehow he will fight Woodley before the year ends.

“So if that guy doesn’t want to fight me, I’m available, I’m going to keep fighting. If Chiesa is next, then Chiesa is next. If ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson is next, then he’s next. I’m going to keep beating these guys until I get to him. But I don’t know, I just have a feeling I’m fighting Tyron Woodley this year,” said Burns.

Burns also speculated that Woodley will lose his next couple of fights that will probably be against Colby and Leon Edwards. He is willing to wait in line for the opportunity. However, he is confident that when his time comes, he will overcome the former kingpin. As of now, he gusts wants to get back into the Octagon.