Kamaru Usman vs Gilbert Burns UFC 258 Tips, Predictions and Preview

Mar 20, 2024

Looking for Kamaru Usman vs Gilbert Burns UFC 258 tips? Our UFC expert previews the UFC Welterweight Championship main event.

Kamaru Usman defends his title for the third time in a bout that was originally scheduled to happen twice last year, but challenger Gilbert Burns is now ready for his shot at UFC gold. UFC 258 will take place on Sunday, February 14.

Kamaru Usman Last 5 Fights 🥊

Date	Result	Opponent	Method
July 12, 2020	Win	Jorge Masvidal	Decision (unanimous)
December 14, 2019	Win	Colby Covington	TKO (punches)
March 2, 2019	Win	Tyron Woodley	Decision (unanimous)
November 30, 2018	Win	Rafael dos Anjos	Decision (unanimous)
May 19, 2018	Win	Demian Maia	Decision (unanimous)

Gilbert Burns Last 5 Fights 🥊

Date	Result	Opponent	Method
May 30, 2020	Win	Tyron Woodley	Decision (unanimous)
March 14, 2020	Win	Demian Maia	TKO (punches)
September 28, 2019	Win	Gunnar Nelson	Decision (unanimous)
August 10, 2019	Win	Alexey Kunchenko	Decision (unanimous)
April 27, 2019	Win	Mike Davis	Submission (rear-naked choke)

Kamaru Usman vs Gilbert Burns Tips, Predictions and Preview

This fight may be too soon for challenger Gilbert Burns with the 34-year-old Brazilian facing a champion at the top of his game.

Burns is on a six-fight winning streak following a TKO win over Demian Maia in the first round in March 2020 before complete domination against former champion Tyron Woodley. However, Woodley has looked terrible and a shell of the man that he once was.

Standing in his way is the champion, Kamaru Usman, who has a 17-1 professional record and a perfect record in the Octagon.

Usman defeated Colby Covington in a brutal manner and then dominated Jorge Masvidal in his latest title challenge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSE9-GDHyX4

The champion is a big, strong Welterweight who has the takedown skills to bring this fight to the mat if he desires, although Burns will be just as happy to grapple as he boasts eight victories via submission.

Usman will have a five-inch reach advantage in the stand-up game which means he can use that to land shots at range. He lands 4.6 significant strikes per minute compared to Burns’ 3.15 which means that Usman should have the striking advantage in terms of reach and volume in this fight.

Nine of the last 11 fights for Usman have gone the distance and Burns has only been stopped once, by Dan Hooker, which means this fight is likely to go the full five rounds. Once it is all set and done, Usman should retain his Welterweight belt.