Durinho admits he 'feels better about not having fought' against Usman after testing positive for COVID-19

G. Durinho (photo) in action for the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @gilbert_burns

Known for not turning down fights in Ultimate, Gilbert Durinho had an arduous path until receiving the chance to compete for the welterweight belt (up to 77,1 kg.) against Kamaru Usman. However, when he would finally fight for the title, the Brazilian was forced to withdraw from the UFC 251, in July, after testing positive for COVID-19. Despite the difficult refusal, the athlete says that watching the event was one of the most difficult moments of his career and revealed that he felt better for not having fought, preferring to be physically fit for the fight.

See too

Cormier says Khabib would only come out of retirement for a super fight against St-Pierre

UFC fighter details training with Chimaev: 'He tore my ear'

Amanda Nunes is awarded Fighter of the Year at the 'MMA Oscar'

“I was watching that fight and I was almost crying because when Masvidal was coming into the fight, (I felt like) it was supposed to be me. I endured it because my children were here, but I almost cried. This was my chance”, revealed Durinho, in an interview with the MMA Fighting website.

In this ocasion, Jorge masvidal He agreed to replace him in the fight, even though he was defeated by a unanimous decision by the judges. The Brazilian stated that, a month after the diagnosis, he still felt the side effects of the disease, with damage to his conditioning.

“My energy level was not normal. It's a long process. I wasn't 100% (one month after testing positive). I feel better for not having fought. I know it sounds strange, but if I caught that virus and for some reason the test was negative, I was going to fight and I wasn't feeling well. Don't get me wrong, even if I'm not feeling well, I'm going to fight anyway. I'm not going to give up, especially for a title fight. I will do my best. I don’t know if my best will be enough, but I will never give up the fight”, he concluded.

At 34, Gilbert Durinho has a record of 19 wins and three losses. He received confirmation of the title fight after his victory against the former division champion, Tyron woodley, in May. The clash for the welterweight belt should take place on February 13, 2021, at UFC 258. It is important to highlight that this is the third time that Ultimate has tried to hold the important fight. In the first, the Brazilian had to be removed, after testing positive for Covid-19. In the second, it was Usman who was unable to perform.