UFC lightweight Gilbert Burns is coming off of an impressive knockout win over Jason Saggo at UFC Fight Night 116 in Pittsburgh last September. 

The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt had recorded three knockouts before entering the Octagon, but he had never notched a victory via KO under the UFC banner. Burns' latest masterpiece was not only breathtaking to watch, but it also represented the culmination of years of hard work, helping fans see him as more than just a grappler. 

“It was great,” Burns told FloCombat. “I had been working a lot on my stand-up, piecing things together even before [UFC Pittsburgh]... I put a lot of work in and got a nice knockout. I don't know why it wasn't Performance of the Night, but it was a great knockout. 

"Everybody was talking about it, so I was very happy with my performance.”

Burns came into the bout on the last fight of his UFC contract, so the stakes were high for the Brazilian. If he lost, he’d find himself with a smaller contract. With a win — and especially an impressive one — he’d be in line for a raise.

“It was great to get a new contract,” Burns said. “I went into my last fight with a little bit of pressure. It was the last fight on my contract, [and] I was coming off of a loss. It was kind of a relief and motivating at the same time — get a new contract, get a new four-fight deal with the UFC.”

The first fight of Burns’ new contract comes against Canadian prospect Olivier Aubin-Mercier at UFC on Fox 28 on Feb. 24 in Orlando, Florida. 

Aubin-Mercier fought a little higher up on the card in Pittsburgh, beating Tony Martin via split decision. Burns watched that fight live from the locker room, and he knew instantly who he wanted next.

“I was watching his fight. I [had just] fought and I was in the locker room because I had two training partners fighting: (Kamaru) Usman and Luke Rockhold,” Burns said. “I was watching [Aubin-Mercier] fight, where he beat Tony Martin. I was just looking for a fight in my division, and I just think it would be a good fight for the fans and I believe I can beat the guy.

“I know it will be a challenge for me too, so I just see it as a challenge, nothing personal, but I just feel like it’s a challenge for me. I don't like to talk crap, so I just asked for the fight and he accepted. I hit up (UFC matchmaker) Sean Shelby and that’s it. Done. We’re fighting.”

Burns said he won't change much in his training camp for Aubin-Mercier — aside from focusing a little bit more on his Judo.

“I'm still going to have all the training partners I've had before, like Michael Johnson, Michael Chandler, all these guys under Henri (Hooft), Robbie Lawler, everyone's going to be there to help me out," Burns said. "[I’m] for sure going to get ready for the southpaw style [Mercier] has and his judo throws that he has. 

“He's a former national Canadian judo champion, so I have a couple of judo guys here to imitate his style a little bit." 

With his preparation, his background, and his ever-expanding skill set, the Hard Knocks 365 product is positive he’ll be the man to come out on top in this fight. 

But don’t mistake Burns' confidence for arrogance.

“I know I'm going to finish this guy,” Burns said. “I'm just training hard. We're still studying the guy and coming up with a strategy, how the fight is going to be. I just see myself beating the guy. 

"I'm not saying that cocky, I'm saying that confident. I can beat the guy. I'm going to work my ass off to do it. I see myself finishing the guy. I have all the tools in the stand-up and grappling to finish this fight.”

Burns also looks forward to kicking off the first fight of his new contract at UFC on Fox 28. He wants to be busy in 2018, and he fully expects to finish out his contract at 4-0. 

“[In] 2018, I want to have as many fights as I can,” Burns said. “To be real, I really want to finish that contract in 2018. That's one of my goals. So I have four fights on my contract. I want to get a four-fight win streak and get a new contract. 

"I want to finish all the fights. I know trying to get four is hard, but that's my goal in 2018." 

By Lucas Grandsire