Gilbert Burns has officially announced his retirement from MMA competition. The scheduled bout between Guskov and Jan Blachowicz has been cancelled, but another Polish fighter, Ibo Baranyevski, will serve as a replacement opponent. Mike Malott is expected to enter the top 15 rankings following his recent victory, though doubts remain about his ability to compete with elite welterweights. The post highlighted standout performances from the recent card, recommending fans watch the Vologdin-Castaneda, Nallo-Herbert, and Zhorden-Phillips fights. Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber 13-1 in a wrestling match and called out Colby Covington afterward.
Gilbert Burns has officially announced his retirement from mixed martial arts, bringing an end to a career that saw the Brazilian grappler become one of the most dangerous fighters in the welterweight division.
Burns, 39, finishes with a professional record of 22-10 and was most recently ranked 13th in the UFC welterweight division. Fighting out of Kill Cliff FC, the orthodox Brazilian stood five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach and built his reputation on a well-rounded game that combined solid striking — landing 3.15 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy — with persistent wrestling, averaging 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career.
Separately, the scheduled light heavyweight bout between Guskov and Jan Blachowicz has been scrapped, with fellow Polish fighter Ibo Baranyevski stepping in as a replacement opponent. Blachowicz, 43, holds a record of 29-11-2 and sits fifth in the light heavyweight rankings. The veteran carries one of the more active striking outputs in the division at 3.44 significant strikes per minute, and his 78-inch reach gives him a considerable physical advantage in most matchups.
Elsewhere, Mike Malott is expected to crack the welterweight top 15 following his recent victory, though questions linger over whether he can compete with the division's upper tier. Fans were also pointed toward several standout bouts from the recent card, with the Vologdin-Castaneda, Nallo-Herbert, and Zhorden-Phillips fights highlighted as must-watches.
In a notable post-event moment, Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber 13-1 in a wrestling match and subsequently called out Colby Covington. Faber, 47, owns a career record of 35-11 and remains one of combat sports' most recognized veterans through his long association with Team Alpha Male.
Why it matters
- Burns's retirement opens a spot in the welterweight rankings and removes a dangerous submission threat from the division
- The Blachowicz replacement bout reshuffles the light heavyweight picture ahead of what was a ranked matchup
- Tsarukyan's callout of Covington following the Faber wrestling session adds a potential welterweight crossover storyline
