UFC 288: Muhammad vs Burns 05/06/2023 – Belal Muhammad and Gilbert Burns lock horns in a three-round welterweight clash that is part of the stacked UFC 288 card on Saturday, May 6, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The Muhammad-Burns showdown is the co-main event for the 14-fight showcase. Muhammad is coming off a two-round technical knockout win over Lukasz Bosacki in UFC 280 while Burns is fresh from a unanimous decision victory over Jorge Masvidal in UFC 287. Initial MMA fight odds place Muhammad as a slight underdog in the match against Burns but anything can happen in the octagon once the opening bell rings.
UFC 288: Muhammad vs Burns 05/06/2023
| When: | Saturday, May 6, 10:00 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, USA |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
| Stream: | UFC Fight Pass |
UFC 288: Muhammad vs Burns 05/06/2023 Odds
| Fighter | Odds | Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belal Muhammad | +105 | Gilbert Burns | -125 |
Main Card
Belal Muhammad
Belal Muhammad (22-3, 1 NC, 13-3, 1 NC UFC) has been impressive so far in the octagon, amassing 13 wins in 17 fights. Those victories placed him as the No4 contender in the 170-pound rankings. He fought UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards in March 2021 but ended in a no contest as Muhammad was accidentally hit in the eye and could not continue. After that no contest, the Chicago native strung up four straight wins against Demian Maia, Stephen Thompson, Vicente Luque and Sean Brady. His TKO win against Brady handed him the Performance of the Night bonus, his second of his career. Muhammad is known for his cardio with 18 of his 26 matches lasting the full route. He has 16 wins by decision and five by knockout.
Gilbert Burns
Gilbert Burns (22-5, 15-5 UFC) has been sensational in his return to the welterweight division in August 2019. He racked up seven wins in nine bouts since his comeback to the 170-pound division where he has fought the likes of Gunnar Nelson, Demian Maia, Stephen Thompson, Khamzat Chimaev, Neil Magny and former UFC welterweight king Kamaru Usman. In his last bout against Masvidal, Burns demolished the former welterweight contender en route to a unanimous decision win. Burns has been able to stop 15 of his opponents in 22 wins, with six ending by knockout and nine by submission. The fifth-ranked welterweight in the UFC seeks to pull off another win over Muhammad to improve his status in the division and line him up for a possible championship fight in the future.
Muhammad vs Burns Betting Numbers
| Record | 16-3-0 | 17-3-0 |
| Last Fight | Win | Win |
| Country | USA | Brazil |
| Height | 5’10” | 5’10” |
| Weight (lbs) | 169 | 154 |
| Reach (in) | 71″ | 70″ |
| Win by KO/TKO | 23% | 27% |
| Win by Submission | 5% | 41% |
| Decisions | 73% | 32% |
| Strikes landed per minute | 4.39 | 3.28 |
| Striking accuracy | 41% | 43% |
| Striking absorbed per minute | 3.95 | 3.27 |
| Striking defense | 59% | 57% |
| Takedown average | 2.11 | 2.55 |
| Takedown accuracy | 33% | 38% |
| Takedown defense | 90% | 38% |
| Submission average | 0.12 | 0.81 |
Belal Muhammad vs Gilbert Burns Betting Picks
The Muhammad-Burns fight could steal the show due to the capability of both fighters to inflict punishment. The match is important for the two protagonists as it would affect their welterweight rankings, with the winner possibly lining up for a title clash against UFC 170-pound king Edwards in the future. The Brazilian Burns is slightly favored by most online sports betting sites to win the showdown as he has pulled off one of his most impressive performances against Masvidal last month. However, do not sleep on Muhammad as he is also capable of winning the bout and shock the betting public with his MMA skills.
