Gilbert Burns is the fifth-ranked welterweight in the UFC. He created quite a buzz during the latest UFC event at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.
During the event, a devoted fan approached Burns with a rather unconventional request – to experience being choked out by their favorite competitor. To the surprise of many, Burns willingly obliged and shared the moment on his Twitter with the caption:
“Guys asking to be chocked out here in Sydney”
The fan’s unusual request sparked a flurry of laughter and jokes in the comment section. Some of the comments were:
“Bro, you could have Bill Cosby’d him easily. Wasted opportunity”
“You should charge them $$$ for that.”
“Probably the most caring and gentle sleeper I’ve ever seen”
“It’s like sitting on Santa’s lap, but instead of telling him what you want for Christmas, you get choked out”
“Love that you take time to meet with fans. Even if they want to be choked, lmao.”
“Im sorry but why does it look like he enjoyed it”
Gilbert Burns embarked on his UFC journey in July 2014, steadily establishing himself as a cornerstone of the welterweight division. With an impressive promotional record of 15-6, Burns now sets his sights on achieving the title in the 170-pound category.
The year 2023 has seen Burns in action three times, showcasing his prowess in the octagon. He started the year with a first-round submission victory against Neil Magny in January. In April, the Brazilian competitor returned to the ring.
He again won by defeating Jorge Masvidal in a unanimous decision, marking the latter’s retirement bout.
But a month later, Burns faced a setback when he accepted a short-notice bout against Belal Muhammad at UFC 288. It resulted in a unanimous decision loss for him.
Given the current landscape of the division, Burns has to secure two more wins to position himself for another shot at the welterweight title. This could potentially set the stage for a high-profile showdown, perhaps against the sixth-ranked contender Shavkat Rakhmonov.