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White says Burns likely next for Usman: 'He's begging for the fight'

Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty

UFC president Dana White said Friday that Gilbert Burns will likely receive the next title shot against welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.

"Listen, the kid wants to fight," White said, according to MMA Weekly. "He wants to fight. These other guys don't wanna fight. He's begging for the fight. And he's the No. 1-ranked guy in the world."

Burns dominated former titleholder Tyron Woodley en route to a unanimous decision win in the UFC Fight Night main event last weekend in Las Vegas. Afterward, he called for a title shot against Usman, his teammate at Sanford MMA in Florida.

Usman was expected to face Jorge Masvidal in his next title defense, but the bout never came to fruition. White also previously named Leon Edwards and Colby Covington as potential opponents.

Masvidal spoke out against the UFC earlier Friday, expressing frustration that the promotion is not willing to pay up for a title fight against "The Nigerian Nightmare."

Burns extended his winning streak to six with the win over Woodley, which also marked his fourth straight since moving up to the welterweight division in 2019.

Usman, meanwhile, is coming off a fifth-round TKO of Covington at UFC 245 last December.

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