Gilbert Burns put in a fantastic performance at UFC 287 when he defeated Jorge Masvidal by unanimous decision, but in the post-fight press conference he accused his opponent of greasing for their fight. It’s a bold statement for sure, but it’s something that several high-level MMA fighters and grapplers have been accused of over the years. Burns not only accuse Masvidal of using lotion, but he also explained how it’s actually possible to do so and get away with it:
“I showed a lot of improvement, and that guy was freaking slippery. There’s an old dog Miami trick with a lotion because he was so slippery… 100 percent, I do believe (he used lotion). I know those old tricks. They wake up on (Saturday) and take the first shower, and they put a lot of lotion on their body…. The skin absorbs the lotion, and then after three hours, you do it again, and then after you do it again, then after you do it again.”
“Whenever he starts to sweat a lot [shakes his head]. For sure, he did that 100 percent. I’m telling you, it wasn’t maybe, maybe not. He was so slippery. Whenever you’re watching the highlights, try to see, you’re gonna see, like, he’s bright, his skin’s bright. I gotta give it up to this guy. The guy has all the tricks.”
Gilbert Burns still won the fight against Jorge Masvidal regardless of whether or not he was greasing though, and he didn’t waste the opportunity to call for a title-shot as soon as he got to speak to Joe Rogan in the cage. He doubled down on that in the press conference too, and he explained that he also wants to act as the backup for the Colby Covington v Leon Edwards title-fight will likely happen before he gets a chance of his own:
“I’m next in line to fight for the title, and otherwise let me go. Let me do my thing, you know these guys are making a million dollars a year in other organizations. That’s it. I’m a backup for the next fight. And I’m fighting for the title next.”
The full post-fight press conference for UFC 287, including the interview with Gilbert Burns where he accuses Jorge Masvidal of greasing during their first, was uploaded to the official YouTube channel of the UFC:
