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Gilbert Burns has chimed in on Colby Covington being named the backup fighter for the upcoming UFC welterweight title fight between reigning champion Leon Edwards and former champion Kamaru Usman. The Edwards vs. Usman title showdown will headline UFC 286 in London, England, on March 18.
Former interim UFC welterweight titleholder Covington weighed in as the backup/replacement fighter for the Edwards-Usman matchup. 'Chaos' could step in to headline UFC 286 if Leon Edwards or Kamaru Usman withdraw from their title fight.
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Speaking to The Schmo, former UFC welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns was asked how surprised he was to see Colby Covington weigh in as the backup fighter. 'Durinho' responded by referencing the fact that Covington hasn't fought since beating Jorge Masvidal via unanimous decision in March 2022.
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He suggested that 'Chaos' likely accepted the UFC 286 backup role to ensure that the UFC doesn't remove him from its welterweight rankings due to inactivity. Burns stated:
"He's smart because March [2023] makes it one year since his last fight. So, he gotta fight, he gotta do something. So, he's very smart to put himself [in the backup role]. I don't know if the UFC offered him or if he offered himself to be a backup. But he's very smart. So, at least they're not gonna kick him out of the ranks."
Gilbert Burns has issued multiple call-outs to Colby Covington and has often implied that 'Chaos' is evading a fight against him. On that note, 'Durinho' emphasized that he's currently focused on his next opponent Jorge Masvidal and will continue to challenge all the other fighters in his division.
Moreover, he was asked if Covington serving as the backup fighter is a sign that he'll receive the next welterweight title shot. Burns replied by indicating that he hopes that isn't the case but would be unfazed even if 'Chaos' was given the next title shot.
Watch Burns discuss the topic at 2:52 in the video below:
Is a potential Gilbert Burns vs. Colby Covington fight on the horizon?
Presently, Gilbert Burns is booked to face Jorge Masvidal at UFC 287 on April 8. Meanwhile, Colby Covington's next opponent and exact comeback date haven't been officially announced yet. While Covington is the backup fighter for UFC 286, the Edwards-Usman matchup is expected to go ahead as planned.
The consensus is that the No. 5-ranked UFC welterweight Gilbert Burns could earn a title shot or a number-one contender's fight next, provided he defeats Masvidal. Besides, the No. 1-ranked Kamaru Usman is set to face the current champion Leon Edwards at UFC 286, whereas the No. 3-ranked Khamzat Chimaev is reportedly moving up to middleweight next.
The No. 4-ranked Belal Muhammad could potentially serve as an opponent for Burns after the Masvidal matchup. However, if 'Durinho' were to beat a UFC megastar like Masvidal, he'd likely be matched up against a higher-ranked opponent. Ergo, a potential clash between Burns and the No. 2-ranked Colby Covington wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility.
