Undefeated featherweight Shane Burgos is set to clash with Calvin Kattar at UFC 220.
The UFC’s featherweight division may have the deepest pool of talent in all mixed martial arts. From Max Holloway on down, the 145ers are chock full of contenders and there isn’t a single ‘easy fight’ in the featherweight top 20.
One such fighter happens to be competing on January 20 at UFC 220, ‘Hurricane’ Shane Burgos. Undefeated in his MMA career, and 3-0 in the UFC, Burgos is a fighter to watch. Cageside Press spoke with Shane Burgos about his fight at UFC 220, his team’s morale, his plans for 2018, and more.
“Anyone who can come in on short notice and get a win over a guy like Andre Fili gets respect in my book.”
It’s fight week for Burgos. How is this featherweight prospect feeling just a few days out of his big fight at UFC 220 against Calvin Kattar? “I’m in shape, I’m ready to go,” Burgos assured us.
“One of my brothers fought in September and my other brother fought in November, so I’ve been pretty much training with them for the last five months. I’m ready to fight already.”
Burgos’s opponent this Saturday night, Calvin Kattar, has flown a bit under the radar to the casual fan. However, Burgos is no casual fan. “Anyone who can come in on short notice and get a win over a guy like Andre Fili gets respect in my book.”
The last time ‘Hurricane’ made the walk to the octagon he was fighting on the preliminary card of Fight Night Long Island. This Saturday Burgos will be the away team so to speak, as he steps into hostile territory to take on Boston’s own Kattar.
“I’m still going to have a bunch of people there to support me,” Burgos said regarding fighting at the TD Garden.
The Rise of Tiger Schulmann’s Martial Arts
As far as being the last fight before the two title fights, “I’m thrilled, it shows you what high regards and big expectations they [UFC] have and I definitely plan on proving them right.”
Burgos added, “I wouldn’t have minded the prelim spot because I feel like there might be more eyes on it, but how can I be upset with the spot right before the two title fights?”
Indeed, the UFC has lofty expectations for this Tiger Schulmann trained fighter. With the recent Jimmy Rivera debacle, how has the morale at the gym been?
“It was a weird situation, but it really didn’t affect us when it came to training. We just handled our business and moved on. Jimmy is in good spirits too. He is staying in shape and still training, he’ll be back sooner rather than later.”
Tiger Schulmann’s finally got their due at a top flight mixed martial arts gym in 2017. Much of their success is attributed to the aforementioned Rivera, and Burgos. Plus the most recent Tiger Schulmann fighter to ink a deal with the MMA leader, Julio Arce.
Will Saturday night be extra special for Burgos now that his friend and teammate Arce is set to make his promotional debut? “One hundred percent,” Burgos said.
“I think so highly of the kid, he works so hard, he is always on weight. He trains all year, he is ready for this. To be on the same card as him, oh man, I can’t wait.”
At just 26 years old and boasting an unbeaten record, Burgos has made all the right moves thus far. So what does this Long Island fighter have in store for 2018?
“Kicking ass and cashing bonus checks,” Burgos said.
Its all in a day’s work, for some of us anyway.
The hunt for bonus checks continues for Shane Burgos at UFC 220: Miocic vs. Ngannou. The event takes place this Saturday night, January 20 live on PPV at the TD Garden in Boston, MA.
