Gilbert Burns speaks about the way Jorge Masvidal has handled his financial issues with the UFC.
Before Dana White confirmed that Burns will challenge Usman for the UFC Welterweight title at UFC 251, “Gamebred” was reportedly set to clash against “The Nigerian Nightmare” at the big pay-per-view.
However, financial issues between Masvidal and UFC have been made public and the Florida native has made it clear that he won’t be step into the octagon unless he’s paid what he’s worth. Since then, Jon Jones, Gray Maynard, Curtis Blaydes, and several more names have criticized the company over the way they pay their fighters. Masvidal even stated that Burns got the fight against Usman because he accepted a low pay (Transcript courtesy of MMA News):
“They offered me considerably less money than what I should be getting, and it didn’t work” Masvidal said of the stalled negotiations for his fight with Usman. “Then they offer [Burns] the least amount of money that they would take. That’s what they did. They offered me, then when I said no, they offered a couple of other people until they got to Gilbert. Gilbert wasn’t their first thing. Nobody on a worldwide scale knows him. I’m not dissing his skillset, but he’s not a known guy, so of course he took the lowest money possible to fight a title.”
Speaking to MMA Fighting, Burns addresses his financial situation with the company and the Brazilian is clearly happy with the amount he’s receiving for his fight against Usman:
“They offered me a great amount of money,” Burns said. “More money than a lot of guys get fighting for the title. I’m happy for my situation. But I’m putting myself in that position to get those fights. I understand Masvidal’s side, he wants more money. But I think it all comes down to management. If you just signed a deal, how come you going to ask for a new deal? It just doesn’t make sense. I think it’s all in the negotiations.”
Burns also believes that Masvidal making the situation public was the wrong move, though he understands why the popular welterweight is looking for more money:
“I don’t think that helped,” Burns said. “I don’t think that’s helping Masvidal’s side. I think my case is a strong case. He was fighter of the year in 2019. I’m already two fights [in this year], two great performances, I believe I earned the title shot, but I understand those guys want more money and everything. I think there’s a better way to get those deals done than just complain. Like we saw a couple guys, Khabib [Nurmagomedov] never complained about money. D.C. [Daniel Cormier] never complained about money. [Georges St-Pierre], a lot of guys, I know these guys make a great amount of money, and they don’t need to go against the UFC, throw everything in the media. I just think there’s a better way than going on social media [and saying], ‘Oh let me go, give me more money or let me go.’ I think you’ve got a better way to do business than this way.”
UFC 251 takes place on Saturday, July 11 from Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi with Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns headlining.