Burns submits Monteiro at UFC BJJ 9 and calls out nine grappling opponents

Gilbert Burns ended a run of six months without a victory by submitting Horlando Monteiro via rear-naked choke in just 1 minute 22 seconds at UFC BJJ 9 on Thursday — his first win on the grappling mats since defeating Rafael Lovato Jr. in a special match in 2021.

The result carries extra weight given the context. Burns, 39, had announced his retirement from MMA less than two months earlier following a fifth consecutive Octagon loss, a knockout defeat to Mike Malott. Thursday’s performance offered a reminder that, away from the cage, his jiu-jitsu credentials remain formidable. Burns was initially taken down by Monteiro but appeared to welcome the position, quickly reversing to take his opponent’s back before locking in the choke that ended the contest.

“I’m so happy,” Burns said after the submission. “Oh my god! It’s been a while since I’ve had a win, so it’s so good to be here, putting my jiu-jitsu to the test.”

Riding the moment, Burns wasted no time in laying out a wish list of future grappling opponents. “I’m ready to fight for the belt or have some great super fights for you guys,” he said. “Anthony Pettis, Nate Diaz, Demian Maia, Kron Gracie, Benson Henderson, Rafael dos Anjos, Michael Chiesa, Colby Covington, Dustin Poirier. There are a lot of good jiu-jitsu fighters who would love to compete. Let’s put on a show!”

Burns, who became a world jiu-jitsu champion in 2011 — defeating Gracie in the final — spent more than a decade in the UFC across both lightweight and welterweight. His career peak came in February 2021 when he challenged Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title, dropping the champion early before Usman rallied to stop him in the third round. Burns subsequently beat Stephen Thompson and, despite losing to Khamzat Chimaev, delivered what many observers described as the most difficult night of the undefeated Chechen’s career. Wins over Neil Magny and Jorge Masvidal followed before five straight defeats brought his MMA chapter to a close.

While Burns stopped short of signalling any desire to return to the Octagon, his post-fight comments made clear he intends to remain active on the grappling circuit and is eager to secure high-profile matchups sooner rather than later.