Ninth-ranked welterweight Gilbert Burns completed a massive upset on Saturday after beating former champion Tyron Woodley in the main event of UFC on ESPN 9.
The UFC staged its first Fight Night event in Las Vegas since March as Woodley returned from over a year of fighting hiatus for the main event act opposite Burns.
Going up against the former king of 170 pounds, the Brazilian fighter displayed more accurate and technical striking to earn a one-sided unanimous decision victory, with the judges scoring the headlining fight 50-44, 50-44 and 50-45.
Burns, who trains with current champion Kamaru Usman, has scored his biggest win to date and remains undefeated in six straight fights.
“I’m very happy. I knew I could do it. I was calling these guys out for a reason. Not bad for a jiu-jitsu guy. I love the champ, my training partner Kamaru Usman but give me a shot,” he said after the dominant victory.
“Dana White, Hunter [Campbell], Sean Shelby, Kamaru, I want to fight for the title. A lot of love, a lot of respect for you but I think I’m next. I’m right there. I can fight in July. I want to fight for the title.”
Watch the UFC on ESPN 9 main event fight highlights below:
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1266932656018685952
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1266937710045990913
Guard. Changed. #UFCVegas pic.twitter.com/p8MkQvkduS
— UFC (@ufc) May 31, 2020
UFC on ESPN 9 Full Results:
Gilbert Burns def. Tyron Woodley via UD (50-45, 50-44 x2)
Augusto Sakai def. Blagoy Ivanov via SD (27-30, 29-28 x2)
Billy Quarantillo def. Spike Carlyle via UD (29-28 x3)
Roosevelt Roberts def. Brok Weaver via sub (RNC) (R2, 3:26)
Mackenzie Dern def. Hannah Cifers via sub (kneebar) (R1, 2:36)
Katlyn Chookagian def. Antonina Shevchenko via UD (30-25 x3)
Daniel Rodriguez vs. Gabriel Green via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Jamahal Hill def. Klidson Abreu via first-round TKO (1:51)
Brandon Royval def. Tim Elliott via sub (arm triangle) (R2, 3:18)
Casey Kenney def. Louis Smolka via sub (guillotine) (R2, 3:03)
Chris Gutierrez def. Vince Morales via second-round TKO (4:27)
Wow! What a performance! Gilbert Burns beats Tyron Woodley via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-44 x2). #UFCVegas pic.twitter.com/s2SbsFOecw
— MMA Latest (@MMALatestNws) May 31, 2020
(Featured Image Source: Twitter/ UFC)