Gilbert Burns Bio
Gilbert Alexander Pontes Burns, born on 20 July 1986 in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a Brazilian-American mixed martial artist and submission grappler widely known by his nickname “Durinho.” He built his reputation as one of the top Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitors of his generation before transitioning to professional mixed martial arts. Burns competed in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he challenged for the UFC Welterweight Championship in February 2021. As of 11 November 2025, he is ranked #12 in the UFC welterweight rankings and continues to be recognized for his elite grappling pedigree and durable fighting style.
Early Life and Background
Gilbert Burns was born in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, where he grew up alongside two brothers, including his younger brother Herbert Burns, a former UFC fighter. During their childhood, Gilbert and Herbert suffered from severe asthmatic bronchitis attacks, and a doctor recommended that they begin practicing sports at the age of four. Their first exposure to martial arts came through karate sessions held in their own backyard, which helped them manage the condition.
Their definitive transition to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu happened in 1998, when the brothers found a gi in the trunk of a car belonging to one of their father’s clients. Their father worked as an upholsterer, and the car’s owner, a coach named Luiz Carlos, offered the three brothers three months of free lessons in exchange for repairing his car seats. Because the family faced severe financial struggles, the eldest brother, Frederick, eventually gave up his competitive jiu-jitsu career in 2003 to work and support the household, later serving as a combat diver in the Brazilian Navy’s Special Operations.
Burns began formal training at the Associação Oriente Academy in Niterói. His famous nickname, “Durinho,” originated at the Nova União headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, where his older brother Frederick had been called “Todo Duro” by veteran Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro. Because Gilbert fought with similar toughness despite being smaller, Shaolin nicknamed him “Durinho,” the diminutive form meaning “Little Tough Guy.” At 18, Burns secured his first sponsorship, briefly enrolled in college to study physical education, and dropped out in 2007 to focus entirely on competitive jiu-jitsu.
Path to MMA
Before stepping into mixed martial arts, Burns earned a reputation as one of the most decorated submission grapplers in the world. He became an IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Champion in both gi and no-gi competition, a CBJJ Brazilian Champion, a UAEJJF World Pro Champion, a European Open medallist, and an ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship medallist. He also earned the rank of 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, tracing his lineage back to Mitsuyo Maeda through Carlson Gracie, André Pederneiras, and Rafael Barros.
After winning the 2011 World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships, Burns decided to make mixed martial arts his primary focus and made his professional debut in January 2012. In 2012, he was chosen by UFC fighter Vitor Belfort to serve as the head grappling coach for Team Vitor on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, which quickly elevated his profile within the sport.
Gilbert Burns Career
Early Career (2012–2014)
Burns launched his professional MMA career in 2012, training first with Xtreme Couture and later joining the Blackzilians. He built an early record competing primarily at lightweight, refining a style built around pressure grappling, top control, and suffocating submission threats. His UFC debut came on 26 July 2014 at UFC on Fox 12, where he stepped in for an injured Viscardi Andrade and beat promotional newcomer Andreas Stahl by unanimous decision.
Later in 2014, Burns faced Christos Giagos at UFC 179 and won by first-round submission, earning his first Performance of the Night bonus. These early UFC appearances established him as a finisher on the mat and signaled that he could translate his elite jiu-jitsu into the MMA cage. He finished the lightweight portion of his early UFC run as a developing contender with two consecutive Performance of the Night awards.
UFC Breakthrough (2014–2019)
Burns continued to grow inside the UFC, notching signature wins such as a third-round submission of Alex Oliveira in 2015 and a first-round submission finish of Łukasz Sajewski in 2016 at UFC Fight Night 90. He also suffered his first professional loss during this stretch, dropping a unanimous decision to Rashid Magomedov at UFC Fight Night 77 in November 2015. Through these fights, he developed a reputation as an aggressive grappler who could finish opponents on the ground.
After joining Kill Cliff FC in 2017, Burns began his rise up the rankings with knockout wins over Jason Saggo and Dan Moret, and a decision win over Olivier Aubin-Mercier at UFC 231. In 2019, he made his formal move to welterweight, defeating Alexey Kunchenko, Gunnar Nelson, and Mike Davis by a mix of decisions and submissions. He closed out the year by signing a new four-fight UFC contract, cementing his status as a contender.
Welterweight Contender Era (2019–Present)
The 2020 portion of Burns’s career marked his arrival as a top welterweight. He defeated Demian Maia by first-round technical knockout at UFC Fight Night 170, earning another Performance of the Night award, and then dominated former champion Tyron Woodley to win a lopsided unanimous decision in the main event of UFC on ESPN 9. The Woodley win marked his fourth Performance of the Night bonus and put him directly in line for a title shot.
Burns challenged Kamaru Usman for the UFC Welterweight Championship on 13 February 2021 at UFC 258. He dropped Usman early in the fight before ultimately losing by third-round technical knockout. He followed the title fight with a decision win over Stephen Thompson at UFC 264 and a Fight of the Night loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 273 in April 2022. He later defeated Neil Magny by first-round arm-triangle choke at UFC 283 and outpointed Jorge Masvidal at UFC 287 in April 2023.
From late 2023 onward, Burns faced a tougher stretch, losing decisions to Belal Muhammad and Sean Brady, and being knocked out by Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 299 in March 2024. In 2025, he was scheduled to face Michael Morales at UFC 314, with the bout later moved to UFC Fight Night 256, where Burns was stopped by technical knockout in the first round. His MMA record reflects 22 wins and 9 losses, with 4 knockouts, 9 submissions, and 5 decisions among his victories.
Style and Strengths
Burns is an orthodox fighter who relies on his world-class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as his foundation. Working closely with striking coach Henri Hooft and catch wrestling coach Neil Melanson at Kill Cliff FC, he pairs suffocating top pressure and dangerous submission threats with improving hands. His combination of grappling pedigree, cardio, and finishing instincts has made him one of the most dangerous submission artists in the welterweight division.
Notable Events and Milestones
Burns’s career highlights include his UFC Welterweight Championship challenge against Kamaru Usman in February 2021, his Fight of the Night battle with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 273, and his four Performance of the Night bonus awards. He also captured the 2011 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, an ADCC World Championship bronze in 2015, and the 2010 World Pro Cup title in Abu Dhabi.
Gilbert Burns Career Wins
Across his mixed martial arts career, Gilbert Burns has compiled 22 verified professional wins, with finishes coming by knockout, submission, and decision. His finishing rate reflects his grappling roots, while his decision victories highlight his durability and ability to outwork opponents over full rounds. He has also earned multiple Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses inside the UFC.
UFC Highlights
Burns has scored notable UFC wins over Tyron Woodley, Stephen Thompson, Jorge Masvidal, Neil Magny, Demian Maia, Gunnar Nelson, Alexey Kunchenko, Olivier Aubin-Mercier, Dan Moret, Jason Saggo, Łukasz Sajewski, Andreas Stahl, and Christos Giagos. His UFC breakthrough came with first-round submission finishes and Performance of the Night bonuses, while his welterweight contender run featured signature wins over Woodley and Maia. His more recent UFC wins came at UFC 283, UFC 287, and on the UFC Fight Night circuit.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Burns won a unanimous decision over Rafael Lovato Jr. at Who’s Number One on 30 April 2021 and made his UFC BJJ debut against Horlando Monteiro at UFC BJJ 9 on 4 June 2026, winning by rear-naked choke. His pre-UFC grappling résumé includes gold at the 2011 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship and the 2010 Abu Dhabi World Pro, reinforcing his status as one of the era’s elite submission specialists.
Gilbert Burns Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Gilbert Burns comes from a close-knit family that shaped his athletic journey. He is the older brother of Herbert Burns, a former UFC fighter who also rose through the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ranks. Their eldest brother, Frederick, sacrificed his own competitive career to help support the family during tough financial times and later served as a combat diver with the Brazilian Navy’s Special Operations.
Personal Life
Burns currently resides in Boca Raton, Florida, where he trains out of Kill Cliff FC. He holds both Brazilian and American nationality and remains closely tied to his family in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro. His nickname “Durinho” continues to be a defining part of his public identity inside and outside the cage.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025, Gilbert Burns entered the year looking to reassert himself in the UFC welterweight rankings after a stretch of late-career setbacks. He was originally scheduled to face undefeated prospect Michael Morales at UFC 314 on 12 April 2025, with the bout later moved to 10 May 2025 at UFC 315 before ultimately being shifted to serve as the main event of UFC Fight Night 256 on 17 May 2025. The频繁 rescheduling reflected the high stakes attached to the matchup between the veteran contender and the rising prospect.
Burns ultimately lost the bout against Morales by first-round technical knockout, a result that placed added pressure on his path back into the title picture. Heading into the rest of the season, he remained a dangerous submission threat capable of upsetting higher-ranked opponents on any given night. His grappling pedigree and experience against elite competition kept him firmly in the conversation as a relevant welterweight name.
Looking beyond 2025, Burns continued to balance his UFC career with high-profile grappling appearances. With several fights left on his UFC deal and a reputation as one of the division’s most respected submission artists, he remained a credible gatekeeper in the welterweight field. His ongoing association with Kill Cliff FC and longtime coaches Henri Hooft and Neil Melanson provided a stable foundation heading into the next phase of his career.
