A prominent UFC welterweight fighter has shared his perspective on who presents the greatest challenge to current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and who possesses the capabilities to dethrone him.
The fighter, who also holds the pound-for-pound top ranking, is slated for his initial title defense in August. Makhachev recently recovered from a hand injury, with recent training footage indicating his readiness for his upcoming bout.
Among the potential contenders mentioned are Ian Machado Garry and Michael Morales.
Gilbert Burns Discusses Who Has the Best Chance to Unseat Islam Makhachev
Despite a first-round knockout loss to Michael Morales in their 2025 welterweight bout, Gilbert Burns believes that the undefeated Ecuadorian is not the primary threat to Islam Makhachev.
In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, when asked about potential challengers to the Dagestani champion, Burns stated:
“I believe Ian [Machado] Garry presents a very difficult fight for Islam [Makhachev]. He is exceptionally fast, with dangerous knees, and is improving his jiu-jitsu. I consider both Ian Garry and Kamaru Usman to be very tough matchups for Islam Makhachev, not easy fights at all. They are tall, big, have good reach, and possess valuable experience.”
Regarding Michael Morales, Burns acknowledged his size and power, suggesting he could pose a threat to Makhachev. However, Burns indicated that Makhachev’s superior grappling and submission skills would likely allow him to control and potentially finish Morales in later rounds, should they face each other.
Gilbert Burns himself is currently on a four-fight losing streak. He is scheduled to compete this weekend at UFC Winnipeg against Mike Malott in the main event, aiming to return to the win column.