MMA Fighting<\/a> this week, Burns conceded that it was a painful experience watching Masvidal walk out for an opportunity that was originally supposed to be his.<\/p>\n\u201cI was watching that fight and I was almost in tears because when Masvidal was walking out to the fight, it was supposed to be me,\u201d Burns said. \u201cWhen I saw him walking, it was supposed to be me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI held on because my kids were here but I almost cried watching Masvidal walking in. That was my chance. It was supposed to be me.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Burns admits it was difficult to watch Usman and Masvidal fight, he also recognizes that he likely wouldn’t have been able to perform at a high level due to the COVID-19 symptoms he was suffering\u2014even if he hadn’t tested positive.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy energy level was not normal coming back,\u201d Burns said. \u201cIt\u2019s a long process. I was not at 100 percent [a month after testing positive].<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel better that I didn\u2019t fight,\u201d Burns added. \u201cI know that sounds weird but if I got that virus and for any reason tested negative, I was going into the fight and I wasn\u2019t feeling good. Don\u2019t get me wrong, even if I\u2019m not feeling good, I\u2019m going to fight anyways. I\u2019m not going to pull out, especially for a title fight. I\u2019m going to give my best. I don\u2019t know if my best will be enough but I\u2019ll never pull out of the fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut to take me out and I got home and started getting sick, I definitely see it as a blessing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having experienced COVID-19 first-hand, Burns cautions his fans not to take the virus lightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was very confusing,\u201d Burns said. \u201cThree of my own coaches had it, Kami Barzini, Greg Jones and\u00a0Vagner Rocha, but they had no symptoms. Vagner felt nothing. Greg Jones and Kami as well, they had no symptoms. Aung La [A Sang], the ONE champion that trains with us, he had no symptoms. It\u2019s confusing.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t say it\u2019s just for elderly [people],” Burns added. ” Just make sure you take care of yourself, wear your mask, stay clean, don\u2019t go out crazy. Take all the precautions. It\u2019s very confusing, that virus. People get sick, people don\u2019t. Just make sure to take care of yourself and respect the limits. Make sure you [distance] yourself from people and stay safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
The good news is that Gilbert Burns is expected<\/a> to get his long-awaited crack at Kamaru Usman in early 2021.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Gilbert Burns says it’s a “blessing” he didn’t end up fighting Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight championship in July. Burns was originally slated to challenge Usman, the UFC welterweight champion, for the division’s strap in the main event of UFC 251 in July. Regrettably, he ended up coming down with COVID-19, and was forced […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54430,"featured_media":326219,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[26011,10616,39610],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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