Brazilian welterweight Gilbert Burns (19-3-0) took full advantage of his chance to leapfrog into the title shot conversation at UFC on ESPN 9 Saturday night.
Using an impressive array of strikes and takedowns, Burns racked up a dominant unanimous decision victory over former champion Tyron Woodley (19-5-1).
Burns hurt Woodley early and then proceeded to carve out a big cut above his left eye in the first round. Woodley was mounted and spend most of the round trying to recover.
Woodley tried to mount some offence in the second round, getting back on the board with a good combination that made Burns pay attention. Both fighters started to tire Burns continued to out-strike Woodley and then landed takedowns and threatened with a choke in the fourth.
🇧🇷 @GilbertDurinho with a flurry of strikes in RD 4! #UFCVegas pic.twitter.com/qBfeAtePL7
— UFC (@ufc) May 31, 2020
Burns continued to pressure Woodley in the final round to put his stamp on the fight.
The judges scored it 50-45, 50-44, and 50-44.
Burns will almost certainly enter the top 5 welterweight rankings with the win. For Woodley, it was his second consecutive head-scratching performance.
Flyweights on display! 🙌
💰 FOTN goes to @TElliott125 and @BrandonRoyval! #UFCVegas
(B2YB @ToyoTires) pic.twitter.com/8EtHgvQGLV
— UFC (@ufc) May 31, 2020
Tim Elliott and Brandon Royval secured Fight of the Night, while Burns and Mackenzie Dern earned performances of the night. Each fighter earned a USD $50,000 bonus.
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the main card.
In case you missed the prelims:
CHRIS GUTIERREZ DEF VINCE MORALES VIA TKO (LEG KICKS) R2 4:27
CASEY KENNEY DEF. LOUIS SMOLKA VIA SUBMISSION (GUILOTTINE CHOKE) R1 3:03
BRANDON ROYVAL DE TIM ELLIOTT VIA SUBMISSION (ARM-TRIANGLE) R2 3:18
JAMAHAL HILL DEF. KLIDSON ABREU VIA TKO (KNEE TO BODY AND PUNCHES) R1 1:51
DANIEL RODRIGUEZ DEF. GABRIEL GREEN VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
KATLYN CHOOKAGIAN DEF. ANTONINA SHEVCHENKO VIA UD (30-25, 30-25, 30-25)
MAIN CARD
MACKENZIE DERN VS. HANNAH CIFERS
Too good on the ground! 👀
🇧🇷 @MackenzieDern secures the RD 1 submission. #UFCVegas
Main card continues on @ESPN and E+ pic.twitter.com/i2BHp9Lu2F
— UFC (@ufc) May 31, 2020
WINNER: MACKENZIE DERN VIA SUBMISSION (KNEEBAR) R1 2:36
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MACKENZIE DERN VIA UD
Andrews: Wow! Cifers was tough as I expected but made that mistake not trying to escape Dern’s grip and got caught. Good win for Dern.
ROOSEVELT ROBERTS VS. BROK WEAVER
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1266909838866604032?s=20
WINNER: ROOSEVELT ROBERTS VIA SUBMISSION (RNC) R2 3:26
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ROOSEVELT ROBERTS VIA TKO
Andrews: Roberts did what he said he would do. That was impressive.
BILLY QUARANTILLO VS. SPIKE CARLYLE
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1266919346896539652?s=20
WINNER: BILLY QUARANTILLO VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: SPIKE CARLYLE VIA TKO
Andrews: Carlyle started well but don’t ever turn your back or forget when the rounds ends in the UFC.
BLAGOY IVANOV VS. AUGUSTO SAKAI
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1266927882787569665?s=20
WINNER: AUGUSTO SAKAI VIA SD (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: AUGUSTO SAKAI VIA TKO
Andrews: Not the most impressive performance by Sakai. If Ivanov could have connected more, he would have lost.
TYRON WOODLEY VS. GILBERT BURNS
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1266932656018685952?s=20
WINNER: GILBERT BURNS VIA UD (50-45, 50-44, 50-44)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: TYRON WOODLEY VIA TKO
Andrews: Wow. Woodley laid another big egg. Burns outclassed him and now maybe it’s time for Woodley to serious re-evaluate his future in MMA.
