Burns Accuses Masvidal of Greasing, Demands to Be Backup Fighter for Next Title Bout

Gilbert Burns gave Jorge Masvidal an unhappy farewell on Saturday night, winning a unanimous decision over the popular Miami native in the UFC 287 co-main event.

Though he didn’t get the finish, Burns had the edge in all aspects of the fight, as he tagged Masvidal with right hands while landing takedowns in every round. However, “Durinho” claimed that Masvidal might have done something to make grappling exchanges a little more challenging.

“I was really looking forward for a finish, but I think it was a good fight. I try to put on a show every single time. I was really, really looking forward to a finish,” Burns said at the post-fight press conference. “I hit him with good shots, took him down a couple of times – if I’m not wrong, I had three takedown attempts, and I finished all three. A lot of wrestlers didn’t do that. A lot of guys, high-level wrestlers that he fought had trouble taking him down, and I didn’t.

“I think I showed a lot of improvement, and that guy was freaking slippery. That’s an old dog, Miami trick with the lotion because he was so slippery. Wow.”

Burns then elaborated on his accusation, reiterating that he was “100 percent” confident that his opponent was greasing in their welterweight bout. In this case, however, Burns didn’t accuse Masvidal of applying any type of substance during their bout.

“I know those old tricks those guys do. You know what they do? They wake up on [Saturday] and they take the first shower and they put a lot of lotion on the body,” Burns said. “The skin absorbs the lotion, and then after three hours, you do it again, and then after you do it again, and then after you do it again, and your body absorbs. Whenever you start sweating a lot, [the lotion comes out]. For sure he did that, 100 percent he did. I’m telling you.

“I’m not telling you maybe, 100 percent. He was so slippery. Whenever you guys are watching the highlights, you’re going to see his skin’s bright. That guy, I’ve got to give it up to this guy. He does all the tricks.”

Regardless of whether Burns’ claim is true or not, it ultimately didn’t prevent the Brazilian from earning a clear-cut victory. He has now won three of his last four fights since fallling to Kamaru Usman in a welterweight title bout at UFC 258 in February 2021. UFC president Dana White has been adamant that Colby Covington is next in line to face Leon Edwards for welterweight gold, but Burns believes he should be next in line after that — and he’s willing to take the proper steps to ensure that he is.

“I think it’s almost a done deal Leon and Colby in London, if I’m not wrong,” Burns said. “It’s almost a done deal, it’s just small details. I want to be a backup. I’m going to. I’m not asking. I’m demanding that I am going to because whenever they ask anytime the UFC calls asking for opponent, I say yes.

“Now I’m demanding that I’m going to do my training camp for five rounds, I go to London, and I’m next in line to fight for the title,” Burns said. “Otherwise, let me go, let me do my thing. These guys asking a million in other organizations you know. That’s it, I’m a backup for the next title fight, and I’m fighting for the title next.”

For his part, White seemed to be agreeable to those terms.

“I love that,” White said. “Yeah, why not? You got a deal.”