After their matchup was canceled twice before, Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman have again agreed to face off, this time on February 13’s UFC 258.
The news was first reported by Combate and confirmed by ESPN.
Burns has been scheduled to challenge Usman for the welterweight title twice before, the first time being in July of last year. Usman was originally scheduled to fight Jorge Masvidal, but the agreement fell through after payment disputes with Masvidal, and Burns stepped in. Before the fight could take place, though, Burns tested positive for COVID-19 and had to withdraw from the fight. Masvidal and the UFC came to an agreement, and Masvidal took Burns’ place, though he ultimately lost the fight to Usman.
Usman vs. Burns was tentatively rescheduled for UFC 256 on December 12, but the fight ultimately didn’t materialize. Though no contracts have been signed yet for their UFC 258 matchup, both fighters have agreed to meet for the event, and fingers are crossed that everything will proceed smoothly.
Burns is an IBJJF world champion in both gi and no-gi and is currently riding a six-fight winning streak that began at the end of 2018. In addition to being the current UFC welterweight champion, Usman is on a sixteen-fight winning streak that extends all the way back to 2013.
UFC 258 will take place on Saturday, February 13.
