Herbert Burns joins Michael Fiedel on this episode of Fighting Words to discuss his first-round submission win against Evan Dunham at UFC 250.
Burns starts by sharing an in-depth breakdown of how he secured the rear-naked choke finish against Dunham — that’s one to please grappling fans. He also gives an update on the injury that he sustained during the fight before suggesting that he’ll likely be ready to get back inside the Octagon by the end of July or start of August.
As for a potential opponent, Burns eyes matchups with Ryan Hall or Bryce Mitchell. But, ideally, he’s willing to take any fight that can help him enter the UFC rankings. On the topic of grappling, Burns rates himself, Kron Gracie, and Ryan Hall as the best grapplers in the division.
Burns’ brother, Gilbert Burns, is now set to face UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, and Herbert shares insight into how the Burns brothers help push each other to become better mixed martial artists.
Burns promises that Gilbert will become the first Brazilian welterweight champion in the UFC and proclaims that the Burns brothers are going to make history in the UFC. The 32-year-old also touches on the important topics of UFC fighter pay and potential unionization efforts.
He says that a fighter union ‘would be good,’ and states that the world is just waiting for someone to step up and take charge. At the moment, he says Jon Jones and Jorge Masvidal are just looking out for themselves, but, really, everyone should get paid more.
Burns also gives insight into his departure from ONE Championship and explains that leaving Evolve MMA in Singapore owned by ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong ended with him being ‘pushed around’ by ONE and ending up on the sidelines for a couple of years. Burns says that all he wanted was for ONE Championship to honor his contract (he was supposed to fight for a title) but he ended up being ‘put in the freezer.’
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