Gilbert Burns is one of the greatest BJJ competitors to ever set foot in the octagon and as such, he’s a good man to have backing your grappling game. That’s exactly what he did for Conor McGregor in a recent video, where he gave his verdict on the former UFC Featherweight and Lightweight World Champion’s ability on the ground. As a three-time IBJJF World Champion, Burns opinion carries a lot of weight, even moreso if he eventually makes good on his goals of becoming the UFC Welterweight World Champion too.
Gilbert Burns gave his opinion on Conor McGregor’s grappling game in a short video on his official YouTube channel:
“He’s good. People think he’s very bad, but he’s very good. People don’t remember he swept Nate Diaz in their first fight. I think he’s very underrated. People say ‘All you have to do is take him down.’ First of all, when the guy controls the distance like Conor, it’s not easy to take the guy down. Another thing that people don’t realize, is those guys that kick a lot, they develop a lot of power in their hips. So those hips are very flexible and very strong. It’s that type of flexibility and strength that is the same one that you use to defend the takedowns.”
Burns then summarized his thoughts on his fellow UFC fighter with: “The point is, Conor’s jiu-jitsu is not bad. People underestimate that, but he is a good grappler the way I see. For sure, he’s not a grappler. It’s not his natural thing, but for sure he’s put a lot of focus on that.”
