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#1. Tyron Woodley vs. Gilbert Burns (Welterweight)
Tyron Woodley's mission was simple - chart his way back towards reclaiming the Welterweight Championship. His first fight since he lost the title in March 2019 to Kamaru Usman was against the multi-dimensional Gilbert Burns. 'Durinho' claimed it was his time now and T-Wood was the old guard that needed to be taken down. Burns was on a 5-fight win streak and he looked to get the biggest win of his career against T-Wood in the main event of the evening.
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Gilbert Burns bags the biggest win of his career at UFC on ESPN 9
Round 1: Both men began cautiously as they scouted each other's movements. Burns fired off a couple of heavy leg kicks.
Burns hurt Woodley with a hard right. T-Wood was rocked and he wobbled down to the mat as a result of the follow-up uppercut in the pocket. Durinho mounted Woodley and punished the former champ with hammer fists.
Burns worked on Woodley and tried the one-arm guillotine. There was some blood spilling out of Woodley's head as Burns mounted all the heavy ground pressure. Gilbert had top control and he looked for the triangle. Woodley scrambled and used his power to get back on his feet. Gilbert went for a big kick but Woodley moved out. Woodley skated by the cage for the counter punch. Burns landed a hard low kick. He connected with a body kick followed by a left hook.
Woodley had a nasty gash over his left eye as the round ended. The cutman had his worked cut out for him.
10-9 Burns
Round 2: Woodley exploded with a combination. He reset the scales and looked good in the early phase. Burns landed a low kick as he controlled the centre of the cage. Burns went for the high kick but Woodley's guard absorbed it.
The Chosen One began to feint much better that kept Burns guessing. Gilbert was also quite elusive with his movements before he went hard for the right.
Gilbert changed levels and landed a clean takedown. Gilbert took top position and was in Woodley's guard. Woodley got to one knee. He used the fence to slowly get back to his base. Tyron looked to pummel the left arm in as Burns kept pushing him to the fence. Burns landed two heavy shots as Woodley was on both his feet.
Burns dictated the fight along the fence. Props to the cutman as Woodley was hardly bleeding despite having a bad cut above his left eye.
Woodley turned over and they clinched until the end of the round.
10-9 Burns
Round 3: Woodley had to push the pace as Gilbert was comfortably getting the better of the exchanges.
Woodley landed a good right as Gilbert was coming in. Gilbert landed a 1-2 that wobbled Woodley. T-Wood fought back with a hard right. Burns landed a body kick followed by a big right. He went low to the body with a punch. He landed a leg-kick combination before going up top with a jab.
Burns lost balance and invited Woodley down but the former Champion declined the offer. Burns touched him with a left before going for a big overhead right. Burns went for the sidekicks to the head.
Burns kept landing the leg and calf kicks. Woodley wasn't making Burns pay for his misses and that could have cost him at the end. Burns stared Woodley down after the round. He was oozing with confidence as we approached the final two rounds.
10-9 Burns
Round 4: Woodley needed the finish as he was three rounds down. Burns ducked under a big left and went for the double leg takedown.
Woodley defended it well and they clinched against the cage. T-Wood pushed Burns, who connected with the knees to the body before reversing positions. Burns looked sensational as he sent in a series of snappy jabs. He picked up the pace and piled on the pressure.
Durinho cut the cage off and stalked Woodley. He jumped in and connected with a hard right followed by a precise combination that dropped Woodley. T-Wood desperately went for the body lock to avoid taking more damage,
Burns landed the second takedown of the fight as Woodley's back was against the cage. Burns kept Woodley down in half guard. He wrapped his arms around Woodley's neck but he ran out of time. The mental warfare from Burns continued as he stared T-Wood down.
10-9 Burns
Round 5: Burns forced the clinch against the fence and he just needed to see stay there and he had the W in the bag.
Woodley needed the finish as Durinho was 4-0 up and in complete control. The referee broke up the clinch and Burns kept up the pressure.
Woodley swung for a hail mary hard right that didn't land. It could have been the finisher had it landed. Both men engaged in a body lock for a few seconds. Woodley let him got to create space for a knockout. Burns fired off kicks to either leg. He wasn't playing it safe as he took the fight to Tyron.
The fight came to a close and so did Durinho's masterclass! That was a star-making performance of the highest order. Phenomenal!
Result: Gilbert Burns def. Tyron Woodley via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-44, 50-44)
Gilbert Burns just dominated one of the greatest Welterweights of all time who was motivated to get back to the top. A new title contender has risen in one of the most stacked divisions of the UFC. If you hadn't taken notice of the Brazilian, you sure have now!
