The UFC hopes that the third time will be the spell for a welterweight title fight between champion Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns, who should now headline UFC 258 after two reservation cancellations.
Several people with knowledge of the rescheduled fight confirmed to MMA Fighting that the verbal agreements are in place and that the fight contracts are expected to be signed soon. The fight for the title was initially reported by Combate. UFC 258 takes place on February 13 at a location yet to be determined.
Usman was scheduled to face Burns at UFC 251 in July; The confrontation came after a planned fight between the welterweight champion and rival Jorge Masvidal was sunk due to a financial disagreement between Masvidal and the UFC. Burns lost the fight after a positive COVID-19 test, and the promotion reached an agreement with Masvidal, who ended up losing to the champion in an unbalanced decision.
Burns was promised the first chance at Usman after Masvidal’s defeat, and eventually the promotion aimed at him for a title shot at UFC 256 on December 12. But the fight was never officially confirmed and was sunk for a later date.
Usman and Burns used to be training partners in the extinct Blackzilians MMA and Sanford MMA. After Burns entered the title photo, Usman switched training grounds, moving to Colorado to work with renowned coach Trevor Wittman.
Usman, the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 21, won 16 consecutive fights and hasn’t lost a fight since 2013. Burns is on a streak of six consecutive wins, having found his pace after an irregular passage at lightweight.