Gilbert Burns: I went Cody Garbrandt crazy

Gilbert Burns rocked welterweight champion Kamaru Usman early in their main event fight at UFC 258 on Saturday night. Burns won Round 1 on all three judges’ scorecards, but “The Nigerian Nightmare” stormed back, stopping the Brazilian early in Round 3. At the post-fight press conference, “Durinho” said in the excitement of very nearly upsetting the title, he failed to follow through with the winning game plan.

I have so much respect for my guy, Cody Garbrandt … I just went the same way, said Burns said. As soon as I saw he was hurt, forget about the strategy. I just went for the kill.

He stayed disciplined. He’s not quick. He doesn’t hit that hard. But he’s friggin’ disciplined. And for me, it was the opposite. I got overexcited, loaded up on my punches, and that was my mistake.

I think I made the same mistake when I fought Dan Hooker. To become a champion, I cannot make those mistakes.

The two were former training partners, and got on fine, but pre-fight, Usman said was Burns would be just be a face trying to take food off his children’s table.

I know he just made that to get a little angry,” said Burns. “I love his family. I even pay for his school if he needs. But I just wanted to become a champion, and I failed. But it’s all on me.

Burns, in tears, shared an intimate moment with the champion, made all the more dramatic because of the UFC’s new cinematic camera filter.

https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1360832333264388101

He just [said to] me, ‘I like you so much, so keep working. You’re the hardest fight I ever had,’ recalled Burns. I said, ‘I like you so much, too.’ I just want to become champion.

The way I see it right now, I just want to do it like Robbie Lawler. He was the only guy, if I’m not wrong, that lost to Johnny Hendricks and then just got right back, fought again, and became a champion.

I hope I don’t get a crazy suspension, and I go back and rest, stay with my family a little bit. I just want to fight as quick as I can. I know I can do it, and it was almost done, but I cannot make those mistakes and become a champion.