Gilbert Burns has officially retired from mixed martial arts competition. The longtime UFC welterweight contender ends his fighting career after competing at the highest levels of the sport. No additional details about the retirement announcement or Burns' future plans were provided in the post. Burns was a former title challenger and top-ranked welterweight throughout his UFC tenure.
Gilbert Burns has officially announced his retirement from mixed martial arts, bringing an end to a lengthy and decorated career at the top of the UFC welterweight division.
Burns, known throughout his career by the nickname "Durinho," finishes with a professional record of 22 wins and 10 losses. The 39-year-old Brazilian, who trains out of Kill Cliff FC, spent years as one of the most dangerous fighters in the 170-pound division, reaching the rank of title challenger before closing out his run ranked 13th in the welterweight standings. Standing five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach, Burns competed as an orthodox fighter and brought a well-rounded skill set that made him a consistent threat at the highest level. Over the course of his career he averaged 3.15 significant strikes landed per minute at a 48 percent accuracy rate, while also posing a persistent grappling threat with 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.5 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Burns was a former title challenger who shaped the welterweight division for years, and his departure removes one of its most established veterans
- Ranked 13th at the time of his retirement, his exit opens a spot in a crowded and competitive 170-pound landscape
- His blend of striking volume and active grappling made him a stylistic measuring stick for top welterweights throughout his UFC tenure
No further details regarding the circumstances of the announcement or Burns' plans beyond fighting were included in his retirement post. At 39, the Brazilian ends a career that placed him among the most complete fighters his division has seen.
