A welterweight bout between Gilbert Burns and Demian Maia is the latest addition to March’s UFC on ESPN+ 28 in Brazil.
MMA Junkie verified verbal agreements are in place for the matchup between Burns (17-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) and Maia (28-9 MMA, 22-9 UFC) with multiple people close to the situation following an initial report from Combate.
UFC on ESPN+ 28 takes place March 14 at Ginasio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia. The entire card is expected to stream on ESPN+.
Burns, 33, has been pleading for a big-name fight in the welterweight division since going unbeaten in four fights since moving up from lightweight. “Durinho” has won six of his past seven fights overall, and is coming off a decision win over Gunnar Nelson at UFC on ESPN+ 18 in September.
Maia, 42, will attempt to push his winning streak to four when he competes in what will be his 32nd octagon appearance. The Brazilian, whose 22 UFC wins rank second all-time behind Donald Cerrone (23), is coming off a third-round submission of Ben Askren at UFC on ESPN+ 20 in October.
With the addition, the latest UFC on ESPN+ 28 lineup now includes:
- Nikita Krylov vs. Johnny Walker
- Jussier Formiga vs. Brandon Moreno
- Amanda Ribas vs. Paige VanZant
- Aleksei Kunchenko vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
- Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Makhmud Muradov
- Enrique Barzola vs. Rani Yahya
- Veronica Macedo vs. Bea Malecki
- Maryna Moroz vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
- Gilbert Burns vs. Demian Maia
