UFC 256 Loses Kamaru Usman-Gilbert Burns Welterweight Title Bout

A welterweight title bout between Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns will not take place at UFC 256 as originally anticipated.

According to ESPN, the fight has been postponed because Usman needs more time to recover from undisclosed injuries, and it is unclear when the bout might be rescheduled. According to the report, the promotion has looked into booking Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou or Jorge Masvidal vs. Colby Covington for the card, but neither fight is close to being finalized.

Usman and Burns were originally supposed to meet at UFC 251 in Abu Dhabi on July 11, but Burns was forced to pull out of the contest after testing positive for COVID-19. Instead, Usman made his second successful title defense with a clear-cut five-round verdict against Masvidal in the evening’s main event. “The Nigerian Nightmare” has won 16 straight professional bouts – including 12 in the UFC.

Burns experienced mixed results at lightweight but has rattled off four consecutive victories since moving up to 170 pounds. That streak includes a first-round stoppage of Demian Maia at UFC Fight Night 170 and a lopsided five-round verdict over ex-champ Tyron Woodley at UFC on ESPN 9 on May 30. “Durinho” has won six straight fights overall in the UFC, a run that includes a pair of victories at 155 pounds.

UFC 256 takes place on Dec. 12 and features a women’s featherweight title tilt between reigning champion Amanda Nunes and Megan Anderson.