Gilbert Burns

Gilbert Burns, known throughout the sport as "Durinho" ("little tough guy" in Portuguese), is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who has competed in the welterweight division of the UFC. Born and raised in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Burns began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a teenager after his father arranged lessons for him and his brothers, and he rose through the sport's competitive ranks before transitioning to professional MMA. He has trained for much of his UFC career out of Sanford MMA in Florida under head coach Henri Hooft.

Before ever stepping into the cage, Burns built one of the more decorated grappling resumes among his UFC peers. He holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Rafael "Fofitio" Barros, with a lineage tracing back through André Pederneiras and the Carlson Gracie line. Competing at the black belt level, Burns won gold at the IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship as well as the IBJJF No-Gi World Championship, and he added additional titles at the Abu Dhabi World Pro and the Brazilian Nationals.

Inside the cage, Burns is regarded as one of the most technically dangerous grapplers to compete in the welterweight division, capable of chaining takedowns, top pressure and submission threats against any opponent. Over time he paired that foundation with markedly improved boxing and kickboxing developed at Sanford MMA, giving him a more complete and dangerous all-around game that produced knockdowns and finishes against elite competition.

Burns's UFC career includes a run to the welterweight title, challenging then-champion Kamaru Usman for the belt. Along the way he recorded notable wins over former champion Tyron Woodley, as well as Demian Maia, Stephen Thompson and

Stats last updated: August 18, 2026