2020 was slowly becoming a monumental year for Gilbert Burns. After scoring decisive wins over Demian Maia and former champion Tyron Woodley, the number two-ranked welterweight was slated to challenge reigning 170-pound titleholder Kamaru Usman at UFC 251 in July.
Those plans were eventually scrapped when “Durinho” tested positive for COVID-19 and was replaced by Jorge Masvidal. As he admitted to MMA Fighting in a recent interview, seeing “Gamebred” make the walk in his stead was a bitter pill to swallow.
“I was watching that fight and I was almost in tears because when Masvidal was walking out to the fight, it was supposed to be me,” he said.