Herbert Burns already has a date and opponent for his return to the UFC. The featherweight fighter is scheduled to face Russian Khusein Askhabov on July 16 at UFC Fight Night, which will be held in Las Vegas.
The Brazilian who underwent surgery for total ligament reconstruction and meniscus repair, has not fought since April 2020.
Burns has admitted that he is happy to be able to fight again and assured that is ready to make a big showing after a long time of no fight.
“I’m very happy to be back fighting. A long time away because of the injury, so getting back to competing and doing what I love makes me very excited.” Burns said.
“I have a goal of conquering great things in the UFC, so I’m preparing myself very well for this comeback.
“I’ve been doing a great job with my team at Sanford MMA and also at my gym, The Way Martial Arts, to get in the day and put on a great show,” Burns said.
Burns preaches respect to his opponent, praised his good record, but emphasises that numbers and statistics don’t go up in the cage, and that in the UFC everyone is a quarry.
“I don’t know who he fought and I don’t know the events he fought. He’s experience, but in the UFC he doesn’t have an easy fight. There everyone is very tough and I am also an object.” Burns said.
“I’m in the organisation and I just renew my contract, so I’m not worried about opponents. Those who want to be champions don’t have to choose who they’re going to fight against.
“I want to be champion, so I’m going to go over whoever it is. I respect him, he has a good record on paper, but at the time of the fight he doesn’t have that number.” he added.
However, Burns, who has 11 wins, eight of them by submission, does not believe that the Russian will seek the ground fight.
