⚡️🤼♂️Robert Whittaker calls Gilbert Burns one of the greatest MMA grapplers and gives his prediction for his fight with Shawn Breedy.
“Gilbert Burns is one of the best grapplers in the history of MMA. He’s a phenomenal grappler, but when it comes to MMA grappling, he’s… pic.twitter.com/ohmdQ2bM0e
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight)
September 2, 2024
Robert Whittaker recently predicted whether Gilbert Burns or Shawn Brady will headline the main event of UFC Fight Night.
Burns will face Brady in the main event of UFC Fight Night 242 on Saturday at the Apex in Las Vegas. Coming off two straight disappointing bouts, Burns is in a weak position going into the matchup with Brady.
However, Whittaker spoke highly of Burns and analyzed his next bout. According to “Bobby Knuckles,” the Brazilian is one of the best grapplers in MMA history. Whittaker noted that Burns injured his shoulder in the first round of his loss to current champion Belal Muhammad at UFC 288. He also noted that Burns won his next bout against a rising Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 299 in March of this year, but the Australian came from behind to win by knockout in the final stanza. Whittaker acknowledged that MMA is an unpredictable sport, but he expects “Durinho” to defy expectations when he takes on Brady at UFC Fight Night 242 this weekend.
“I think Gilbert Burns is one of the best MMA grapplers of all time,” Whittaker said on the MMA Arcade podcast. “He’s phenomenal at grappling. I think he’s one of the best of all time as far as MMA grappling goes. The loss against Belal was when he tore his rotator cuff in his shoulder or whatever, but that was the first fight. [round] He did, and then it got ugly. And then he rushed into that match and it took him about four or three weeks right after the match… And then against JDM, he was winning, and then he wasn’t. But he was winning, so I thought he was in good shape up until that point. I don’t know, I’ll bet on Burns. But there’s crazier stuff going on.”
Brady hasn’t competed since his submission win over Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Austin in December 2023. The bout marked his return from his only professional loss to Muhammad. Brady was scheduled to face Vicente Luque at UFC Atlantic City in March of this year but was forced to pull out due to injury.
Meanwhile, Whittaker is preparing for his highly anticipated middleweight title bout against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308 on October 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
