Gilbert Burns says he’d be open to wrestling Colby Covington in another combat-sports chapter

Gilbert Burns, the longtime mixed-martial-arts standout now navigating life after retiring from MMA, says he is open to competing against Colby Covington in a wrestling-based format, not just a conventional UFC-style fight. Speaking in the wake of his own successful grappling appearance, Burns framed a grappling-heavy match-up with Covington as something that “would be a good one,” showing how quickly he has moved from legacy MMA to the next competitive chapter.

Burns’ interest connects to a storyline he has frequently raised in the past: a potential fight with Covington, a fighter known for relentless pressure and a wrestling-first approach to most exchanges. In the MMA context, that kind of clash has always carried built-in intrigue, but Burns’ latest comments shift the emphasis toward positional grappling and control, where his submission skill set is a major calling card.

The timing matters for Burns because he has already shown he can produce quickly in a grappling-focused environment. Earlier this year, Burns made a UFC grappling debut that ended fast, tapping Horlando Monteiro in just over a minute, according to the account in Yahoo Sports. The result reinforced that his technique can translate even when the rule set and pacing are different from MMA, and it appears to have emboldened the idea of extending his competition beyond MMA.

Burns’ position in this conversation is also notable because retirement changes the incentives. In MMA, a fight like Covington carries immediate promotional weight, rankings logic, and contract math. In contrast, a wrestling or grappling competition becomes less about the usual championship ladder and more about match-up chemistry, style contrast, and the entertainment value of specialist grappling. Burns’ suggestion suggests he is looking for that kind of pure combat problem rather than a stopover toward another title chase.

For Covington, a Burns-centered discussion still carries the name recognition and fan interest that follows both men, but a wrestling-forward match-up would raise different questions than an MMA bout. How much does Covington’s wrestling base carry when there is no threat of strikes? Can Burns turn scrambles into submission sequences at a pace that makes the match uncomfortable for a pressure grappler? Those are the style issues at the heart of why Burns sees the potential as compelling.

There remains a wide gap, however, between interest and implementation. Burns’ comments, as described, outline openness rather than an agreed date, opponent confirmation, or a specific event format. With that in mind, the next step to watch is whether the conversation turns into a formal challenge or competition arrangement that clearly defines rules, weight classes, and the governing organization for a “wrestling” setting.

Until then, the broader implication is that Burns is actively working to keep his competitive identity intact through grappling, even after his MMA retirement. If the Burns-Covington idea develops in the direction of a grappling match-up, it would mark a rare crossover of two high-profile careers at a time when both men’s legacies extend beyond any single discipline. For fans, it also offers a preview of what Burns is prioritizing now: not a repeat of his past, but a new way to win.