Gilbert Burns announces next match

Gilbert Burns is fighting again, but not in mixed martial arts. The former UFC welterweight title challenger said on May 22 that he is returning to competition in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, booking matches under the UFC BJJ banner and at an outside grappling event weeks after announcing his retirement from MMA. Bloody Elbow reported Burns framed the move as a return to his “first love” after a five-fight losing streak in the UFC ended with a knockout loss to Mike Malott in April. ### Which match did Burns announce on May 22? May 22 was the date Burns publicized his next appearance under the UFC umbrella. Bloody Elbow reported that Burns will face Horlando Monteiro in a middleweight match at UFC BJJ 9 at the Meta Apex on June 4. The report cited Burns’ social media post and said the bout marks his debut under the UFC BJJ banner. (bloodyelbow.com) Horlando Monteiro was identified in the same report as a decorated black belt. Burns’ move puts him back in a UFC-branded event less than two months after he said he was done with MMA competition. ### Why is Burns returning so soon after retiring? (bloodyelbow.com) April 2026 was when Burns retired from MMA after losing to Mike Malott in the main event at UFC Winnipeg. Bloody Elbow said that defeat was Burns’ fifth straight loss in the promotion, following losses to Michael Morales, Sean Brady, Jack Della Maddalena and Belal Muhammad. (bloodyelbow.com) MMA Fighting reported earlier in May that Burns had signed with UFC BJJ after retiring from MMA, confirming that his post-retirement plans still included competition on the mat. In a separate report, MMA Fighting said Burns wanted to keep competing in jiu-jitsu and chase a gold medal at the World Master IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Las Vegas in the first week of September. (bloodyelbow.com) ### What does “returning to his first love” refer to? Brazilian jiu-jitsu is the discipline Burns built his career on before his UFC run. Bloody Elbow described him as a multi-time IBJJF world champion, and the report said he is now returning to the sport in which he first rose to prominence. (mmafighting.com) MMA Fighting likewise reported that Burns’ retirement from MMA did not end his plans to compete, with jiu-jitsu central to what came next. That aligns with Burns’ own framing that he is stepping back onto the mats rather than back into the Octagon. (bloodyelbow.com) ### Is UFC BJJ his only scheduled return? July 11 is Burns’ other confirmed date. Bloody Elbow reported that, just days after the loss to Malott and his retirement, Burns announced a grappling match against Piter Frank at Connect Heroes in Rio de Janeiro. (mmafighting.com) Connect Heroes was the first post-retirement booking to become public, and UFC BJJ 9 now gives Burns an earlier return date. That means Burns is scheduled to compete twice in grappling within about five weeks — first on June 4 at the Meta Apex, then on July 11 in Rio de Janeiro. (bloodyelbow.com) ### What comes next on the calendar? June 4 is Burns’ next scheduled appearance, when he is due to meet Horlando Monteiro at UFC BJJ 9 at the Meta Apex. July 11 is his second announced post-retirement date, against Piter Frank at Connect Heroes in Rio de Janeiro, and MMA Fighting has also reported Burns is targeting the World Master IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Las Vegas in early September. (bloodyelbow.com)