Dana White is not surprised that Gilbert Burns is fighting for the welterweight title over Jorge Masvidal.
The UFC president announced on Tuesday that Burns will challenge Kamaru Usman for the 170-pound strap in the main event of UFC 251 July 11 on “Fight Island.”
With the back-and-forth between Usman and Masvidal throughout the year—including a run-in during Super Bowl week in February—most fans believed the matchup was a forgone conclusion. However, Masvidal is in the middle of his own fight with the UFC and, after feeling financially slighted by the promotion during negotiations for the fight with Usman, asked for his release.