Gilbert Burns thinks teammate Ian Machado Garry is deserving of the nickname “The Future.”
At UFC 292, Garry dominated veteran Neil Magny, a former “Durinho” opponent, for quarter-hour to enhance to 6-0 beneath the corporate’s banner, cementing his place as a soon-to-be contender at 170 kilos.
Burns, a former welterweight title challenger and present top-five fighter within the weight class, just lately mentioned Garry’s standing among the many subsequent crop of rising welterweights whereas on MMA Preventing’s Trocação Franca podcast.
“I feel so — in a couple of years, sure,” Burns stated when requested if he sees Garry holding the UFC welterweight title someday. “He’s a terrific child, 25 years outdated. This child is a badass. Earlier than the combat, he stated he would do all that — he just about known as the whole combat beforehand, and pulled it off.”
Burns is at present rehabbing a shoulder damage he suffered in his five-round combat with Belal Muhammad in Could, a bout that went down lower than one month after Burns’ win over Jorge Masvidal. He expects to return to motion in early 2024, and sees loads of rising younger names who can be future threats to the division.
“I feel Shavkat [Rakhmonov] is actually good, too,” Burns stated. “There’s additionally Jack Della Maddalena, a troublesome child who’s developing. There’s this Venezuelan child, Michael Morales, an undefeated child. Gabriel Bonfim too, a nasty child. There’s new blood coming. [Stephen Thompson] ‘Wonderboy’ wants to concentrate, older fighters want to concentrate. Neil Magny simply misplaced badly. They should reinvent themselves in any other case it received’t be good for them, brother.”
Rakhmonov (17-0) completed 5 in a row since becoming a member of the UFC, most just lately with a standing choke on Geoff Neal. Maddalena (15-2) is ideal to date within the UFC with 5 victories, and returns on Sept. 16 versus Kevin Holland. Bonfim and Morales, two skills signed by Dana White’s Contender Collection, are each 15-0 in MMA. Bonfim scored two first-round guillotine chokes to date within the UFC, whereas Morales stopped two opponents earlier than clinching a choice over Max Griffin this previous July.
Burns is older than Magny at 37, however feels his mindset is totally different than different top-ranked welterweights.
“Thank God I didn’t have as many surgical procedures,” Burns stated. “‘Wonderboy,’ it looks like he has surgical procedure each time he fights. He’s all damaged. I’ve been knocked out, TKO’d, knocked down, however there have been many fights the place I wasn’t any [of those]. I’ve good jiu-jitsu and I can use that too. I’m wholesome, I’m wonderful, and I’m hungry to combat. I’ll solely go away [MMA] if I lose three or 4 in a row and badly, getting knocked out. Then, I’m out. However I’m combating. If I’m nonetheless doing it, I’ll hold doing it for years.
“I prepare with all of these guys. I simply skilled with Kamaru [Usman], and did some positions with Ian Garry. When Shavkat and all of those guys come right here, I prepare with all of them. I can combat on the highest degree. Once I begin getting smashed and now not having fun with coaching, once I’m too drained for this, then it’s time. However I’m hungry to coach now, man. I’m like a maniac now for not having the ability to prepare due to my shoulder.”
“I nonetheless bought a couple of years left in me, ?” he added. “‘Wonderboy’ did karate his complete life and he’s 42, 5 years older than me. Neil Magny was by no means this badass. I feel I’m a degree above these guys, each bodily and mentally. [Daniel Cormier] fought to his 40s, however Glover [Teixeira] is No. 1. He fought nicely and have become champion at 42. [Alex Pereira] ‘Poatan’ too, combating nicely at 36. I’m assured that I nonetheless have quite a bit left in me. I’m not saying 5 extra years, and I don’t even need that — [my wife] would kill me. However two or three years extra, I’ve that.”
