UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman will reportedly be back in action on February 13 as he headlines UFC 258 against top contender Gilbert Burns.
As first reported by Brett Okamoto of ESPN, welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and top contender Gilbert Burns have agreed to fight at UFC 258 on February 13. This is the third time the fight has been booked, having been cancelled in July when Burns was forced to withdraw due to covid and in December when Usman was still recovering from injuries.
Multiple outlets subsequently confirmed the booking Monday.
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (17-1) is looking to further his stranglehold on the division as he continues a sixteen fight win-streak that has seen him unseat longtime champion Tyron Woodley and defend the belt against top contenders Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington. Despite his long run of success, 2021 figures to be amongst his toughest years to date schedule-wise as top contenders Leon Edwards (whom Usman previously defeated in 2015), Khamzat Chimaev, and Stephen Thompson are all in the running for potential title shots in the calendar year.
Gilbert “Durinho” Burns (19-3) is on a six fight win-streak that has seen him emerge as a top contender at welterweight after having mixed results as a lightweight where he began his UFC career. 2020 was a breakout year for Burns as he shocked former two-time title challenger Demian Maia with a first round knockout in March and throttled former champion Tyron Woodley for five rounds in May. His willingness to step in for the UFC has been rewarded by the promotion who have kept his date with Usman twice now after the fight has been scrapped twice due to various circumstances.
No undercard or location for the event has been announced. However, with the promotion on Fight Island in January, UFC 258 is expected to be held at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
