“My father worked as an upholsterer at home and one day this client showed up to get his car seats fixed, and there was a gi inside the car. My brothers and I helped my father at work sometimes, and we found the gi in there and started playing with it.”

Brazilian and American former mixed martial artist and submission grappler

Gilbert Alexander Pontes Burns is a Brazilian and American former professional mixed martial artist and submission grappler. He is known for competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s welterweight division, and for reaching a title challenge in February 2021. Burns built his reputation in grappling before moving into mixed martial arts, where his skill set carried over into the UFC. He competed at welterweight and became a contender for the UFC Welterweight championship in February 2021.