Gilbert Burns revealed he had not planned to retire after his recent fight, but was prepared for that possibility if his performance fell short. He stated he will not continue fighting just for paychecks and is ready to walk away if he cannot perform at his desired level. Burns outlined his post-fighting career plans, which include becoming an MMA manager, believing he has the knowledge to build successful fighter careers. He also plans to open a gym in South Florida with close friend Wagner Rocha, focusing not just on teaching martial arts but on transforming the lives of young people. Burns emphasized that his future work will center on changing children's futures rather than simply running a training facility.
Gilbert Burns has revealed he is weighing retirement from mixed martial arts while simultaneously laying the groundwork for a second career as a fighter manager and gym owner.
The Brazilian welterweight, known as "Durinho," said he had not entered his most recent fight intending it to be his last, but had mentally prepared for the possibility that a poor performance could signal the end. Burns was direct about his standards, stating he has no interest in continuing to compete simply to collect a paycheck. If he can no longer perform at the level he demands of himself, he is ready to walk away.
Burns, 39, carries a professional record of 22 wins and 10 losses and currently sits ranked 13th in the welterweight division. Standing five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach, the orthodox fighter built his reputation as a well-rounded threat, averaging 3.15 significant strikes landed per minute with 48 percent striking accuracy, while also presenting a consistent takedown threat at 2.12 attempts per 15 minutes during his career.
Why it matters
- Burns is a ranked welterweight at 39, and his retirement would remove an experienced gatekeeper from a competitive 170-pound division
- His planned pivot to management could give rising fighters access to the institutional knowledge he built at Kill Cliff FC and across a lengthy UFC career
- A South Florida gym co-founded with Wagner Rocha would add another training hub to an already talent-rich region
Beyond management, Burns described plans to open a gym in South Florida alongside close friend Wagner Rocha. He framed the project in terms that go beyond conventional fight training, emphasizing a mission to change the trajectories of young people's lives rather than simply operate a martial arts facility.
