Jorge Masvidal returns, meets Gilbert Burns in UFC 287 co-headliner on April 8.

Previous UFC welterweight title challengers, Jorge Masvidal, and Gilbert Burns are set to finally end their rivalry inside the Octagon – in the form of a co-main event slot on April 8th’s UFC 287 card.

Masvidal, the current #11 ranked welterweight contender, will make his first Octagon appearance in over a year at the event against Burns, having most recently suffered a one-sided unanimous decision loss to former interim champion, Colby Covington in the main event of UFC 272.

As for one-time title challenger, Burns, the Brazilian contender returned to home soil last weekend at UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro, making short work of perennial contender, Neil Magny in an opening round arm-triangle submission win. UFC president, Dana White confirmed the pairing in a special announcement video tonight. 

Attempting to snap a three-fight losing skid, Masvidal, who twice challenged for undisputed welterweight championship gold against former kingpin, Kamaru Usman – dropping a decision and knockout loss in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

In his most recent career victory, Masvidal clinched the symbolic BMF championship with a doctor’s stoppage victory over promotional veteran, Nate Diaz in November 2019. 

For Burns, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kill Cliff trainee challenged Usman unsuccessfully himself for gold back in 2021, also succumbing to strikes in the pair’s title offing.

Bouncing back to winning ways after a close decision loss to the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 273 last April, Burns notched the ninth submission win of his career with his arm-triangle stoppage of Magny last week.

UFC 287 takes place on April 8. – with an undisputed middleweight championship rematch between Alex Pereira, and Israel Adesanya set to take main event status.

Ross Markey

Senior writer for FightBook MMA. An aspiring mixed martial arts reporter based in Ireland. Producer of news articles, interviews, opinion features, and exclusive features such as, ‘The Fallout’, ‘The Breakdown, and, ‘This Week In MMA’.