April 10, (THEWILL) – In an all-time, all-action thriller at UFC 273, Khamzat Chimaev (with an 11-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC fight record), defeated Gilbert Burns (20-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) by unanimous decision 29-28, 29-28, 29-28.
At the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, the welterweight bout was part of the pay-per-view main event.
The opening round unfolded similarly to many of Chimaev’s previous battles. He soon dragged the fight to the ground. Burns, unlike many of his prior UFC opponents, was able to go back to his feet by using his grappling. Burns’ fighting career flourished once he settled.
However, in the final stages of the round, Chimaev unleashed a devastating punch that knocked Burns out and split the Brazilian’s head wide open. Burns managed to survive the assault, although he remained shaky until the end of the round.
When the second round began, Burns had no trouble keeping his balance. His striking, like Chimaev’s, was spot on. Both boxers had their special moments. The spectators were energised by a barrage of chants, which sometimes merged into an unintelligible roar.
In the final minutes, Chimaev stunned Burns, only to be struck by a tremendous overhand. Chimaev was taken aback and again Chimaev was rocked by another massive Burns strike. He managed to grab Burns and throw him to the canvas, but the damage had been done and Chimaev was injured too.
He laid on top of Burns as the last horn sounded, refusing to let go. After the horn, Burns shoved him off and Chimaev landed an open-hand smack before returning to his stool with a stumbling gait.
By Round three, both men were beginning to show signs of fatigue. Chimaev landed a long flurry against the fence, but Burns did enough to keep the bout from appearing to be on the verge of being stopped.
Both men had their moments throughout the rest of the round and fight. They traded blows, while plainly trembling at the prospect of digging deep and throwing single-combination haymakers. For the final five minutes, the audience was not sitting.
The performance came to a close with a frantic flurry before the horn signalled deafening applause and the decision was read in favour of Chimaev.
With the win, Chimaev continues his climb up the UFC ladder toward a title shot. Burns was widely considered a step up in competition for “Borz,” who has now won all five of his UFC bouts. He also defeated John Phillips, Rhys McKee, Gerald Meerschaert, and Li Jingliang in the UFC.
Prior to UFC 273, Dana White, the promotion’s president, stated that if Chimaev won, the promotion would likely schedule him in a big event on ABC versus Colby Covington. The fight’s timeline has not been revealed.
Burns’ loss is only his second as a welterweight in the UFC. In February 2021, he faced Kamaru Usman in an unsuccessful UFC championship attempt at UFC 258. Prior to Saturday, he fought one more, winning a unanimous decision over Stephen Thompson at UFC 264 in July.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
