UFC 287: Gilbert Burns vs Jorge Masvidal Set as Co-Main Event
Gilbert Burns and Jorge Masvidal will finally fight in a grudge match at UFC 287 PPV.
President Dana White announced the main card for UFC 287 via a video posted on UFC’s official channel where he announced Alex Pereira vs Israel Adesanya 2 middleweight title bout for the main event.
In the same video, White also announced that Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns will clash in a welterweight bout in the co-main event of UFC 287. Burns has been calling out Masvidal for a long time. UFC wanted to book this fight at UFC 283 in Brazil, but Masvidal said he needed time for preparations, due to other things in his personal life.
Burns fought Neil Magny at UFC 283 and got a submission in the first round. In the post-match interview, Burns actually overlooked Masvidal and called out Colby Covington.
Burns has been alternating wins and losses in his last 4 bouts. He fell to Kamaru Usman at UFC 258 in the welterweight title bout. The same year, he defeated “Wonder Boy” Stephan Thompson at UFC 264. Burns only bout in 2022 saw him losing to Khamzat Chimaev in a brutal fight.
Jorge Masvidal has lost three bouts in a row now. He was a late replacement to Burns at UFC 251 when he faced Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman. Despite giving up a close fight, Masvidal lost to Usman on that night. Masvidal also failed to win the title in a rematch against Usman at UFC 261.
Masvidal then headlined against Colby Covington at UFC 272, but lost that grudge via unanimous decision. Days after that bout, Masvidal and Covington got involved in an altercation at a restaurant in Miami Beach, FL, where Masvidal punches Covington in his face. Masvidal is facing charges of aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm after Covington allegedly suffered fractured teeth.
UFC 287 is now confirmed for April 8, 2023, but the location for the event remains up in the air. Keep tuned in for more updates on the show.
