As we approach closer to this weekend’s UFC pay-per-view, fans seemingly appear anxious. This is due to the number of changes the card has undergone so far. While short-notice replacements are not new to the promotion, it sure does affect the dynamic of the card. In the case of the upcoming UFC 288, Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad have now seemed to save a spot that was once in jeopardy.
In mid-April, it was reported that former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira had pulled out of his fight against Beneil Dariush. While the injury was undisclosed, the fight was supposed to serve as the co-main event of UFC 288. Good thing the Las Vegas-based promotion has a plethora of talent in its roster. Former title challenger Gilbert ‘Durinho‘ Burns and Belal Muhammad stepped up to face each other.
Gilbert Burns, Belal Muhammad reveal how #UFC288 fight came together after both initially asked for Colby Covington
Full story by @DamonMartin ▶️ https://t.co/Qh0XyinwFa pic.twitter.com/UTMhw3ohji
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) April 23, 2023
This critical welterweight bout will now put the winner a bit closer to the UFC gold, currently held by Leon Edwards. However, win or lose, it has earned a new record for the Brazilian fighter. Burns now holds one of the fastest turnaround times in the promotion’s history.
Gilbert Burns has the eight-quickest turnaround time in UFC history
Gilbert Burns last fought Jorge Masvidal at UFC 287. The co-main event between him and Miami’s own ‘Gamebred’ happened on the 8th of April. And, he is set to lock horns with Belal Muhammad on the 6th of May. This leaves him with a gap of 28 days between the two bouts, ranking him at number 8 in the list of UFC’s fastest turnaround times.
Former heavyweight Greg Hardy holds the 7th spot with 22 days. Hardy fought Ben Sosoli on October 18, 2019, and soon returned to face Alexander Volkov on the 9th of the next month. Spot number 6 goes to Lavar Johnson with 21 days. He TKO’ed Pat Barry on May 5th, 2012 before returning on May 26 to face Stefan Struve.
Fighter-turned-coach Mike Brown and Michael Bisping share the same spot as Lavar, with 21 days in between the duo’s respective bouts that took place in January 2011 and November 2017.
Fans knew Donald Cerrone as one who would accept fights against anybody and at any time. His shortest turnaround time came about in January 2015 when he fought twice in just 15 days. The craziest part is Cerrone won both contests, ranking him at number 5 on the list.
Four athletes made the two-week turnaround, namely Dustin Pague, Hannah Cifers, Sijara Eubanks, and Sean Strickland. However, only Sean emerged successful in earning victories in both his bouts.
UFC featherweight Chas Skelly took this a step further by securing two fights under his belt in just 13 days. He secured a 1st round submission in only his second promotional fight on August 23, 2014. ‘The Scrapper’ would go on to face Sean Soriano on September 5 and win via unanimous decision.
Rising star Khamzat Chimaev ranks at number 2 with a turnaround time of a mere 10 days. The year 2020 saw ‘Borz’ secure two back-to-back wins, one by submission and the next by TKO.
The number 1 spot goes to strawweight, Loopy Godinez. She set the record for the fastest turnaround in UFC history, with a gap of just 7 days in October 2021.
