Gilbert Burns needed less than 90 seconds to remind everyone where his combat sports roots began.
The former UFC welterweight title challenger returned to competition on June 4 in his UFC BJJ debut and delivered a dominant performance against Horlando Monteiro at the Meta Apex.
Burns Finishes Monteiro in Under 90 Seconds
Burns took control immediately, securing Monteiro’s back early in the match and threatening submissions almost right away. The finish came before the two-minute mark of the opening round, giving Burns a rapid victory in his first appearance since announcing his retirement from MMA.
A Statement Return to His Grappling Roots
The 39-year-old built his reputation as one of the UFC’s most dangerous submission artists, recording nine submission victories during his MMA career. Before his success in mixed martial arts, Burns was already a highly accomplished Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor with world titles in both gi and no-gi competition.
His performance against Monteiro looked every bit like a veteran grappler returning to familiar territory. Burns moved quickly, secured dominant position, and closed the match before his opponent could settle into the contest.
Burns is scheduled to compete again on July 11 in another grappling match against Piter Frank at Connect Heroes in Rio de Janeiro.