Gilbert Burns: 'S--t Might Get Crazy' vs. Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 299

Gilbert Burns is excited by the fact that upcoming opponent Jack Della Maddalena poses a serious threat on the feet.

Burns is slated to meet Della Maddalena at UFC 299 on March 9 at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The Brazilian contender will look to return to the win column after a decision loss to Belal Muhammad at UFC 288 last May. With his title hopes on the backburner, “Durinho” noted there weren’t many options left for him at 170 pounds outside of Della Maddalena.

“Colby [Covington] just fought. He’s not going to fight for a while. Leon [Edwards] just won. Belal [Muhammad] is next. Kamaru [Usman] is not fighting right now. If we’re kind of looking for the numbers, a lot of guys that the number makes sense [to fight me], they’re not there,” Burns said on the JAXXON podcast. “So the way I see it, I’m coming from a loss. I’ve got to go in there and get a win, and then I’m in the conversation again.”

Meanwhile, Della Maddalena hasn’t lost a fight since 2016. That includes six victories in the UFC — four inside the distance. Burns acknowledged the Aussie's formidable boxing skillset, drawing excitement from the threat it presents in their upcoming clash.

“This guy is very tough,” Burns said. “He’s 6-0 in the UFC. He’s got crazy knockouts, good boxer, heavy boxer – he’s not just a regular boxer. He rips the guys’ bodies. He comes forward kind of like [Paulo] Costa.

“He fights coming forward, rips the body – so the guy is a good [fighter]. He’s that guy that is very tough, that is a little bit scary. I like that, when I feel like, ‘Oh, s—t – if I’m not 100%, s—t might get crazy.’”