Kevin Burns (fighter)

Last updated
Kevin Burns
Born (1980-03-03) March 3, 1980 (age 45)
Carroll, Iowa, United States
Other namesThe Fire
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight170 lb (77 kg; 12 st)
Division Welterweight
Reach74 in (190 cm)
Fighting out of Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Team Grudge Training Center
Rank Brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Black belt in Tae Kwon Do
Mixed martial arts record
Total19
Wins12
By knockout3
By submission8
By decision1
Losses7
By knockout4
By decision3
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Kevin Bertrand Burns (born March 3, 1980) is a former American mixed martial artist who previously competed in the Welterweight division. A professional competitor since 2006, he has formerly competed for the UFC.

Contents

Background

Originally from Glidden, Iowa, Burns was a talented football player, competing at the collegiate level. Burns later began training in Tae Kwon Do at the age of 18, before transitioning into Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and then finally mixed martial arts. [1]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

With only ten months of training, Burns made his amateur MMA debut, defeating Josh Neer. Burns took a year off after the win but returned when Neer called him out for a rematch. Burns took his first loss in the bout.

Four years later, Burns won his professional debut against Demi Deeds. He won his next fight before losing to Jason High. The loss did not slow down Burns, as he racked up three more wins. With the wins he earned a four-fight deal with the UFC.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

At UFC 85 Burns made his debut for the UFC, earning the upset win over Roan Carneiro. He submitted Roan in the second round and was awarded Submission of the Night.

During his fight with Anthony Johnson in UFC: Silva vs. Irvin, he repeatedly poked Johnson in the eyes, for which he received four separate warnings by the referee, Steve Mazzagatti. In the third round, Johnson fell to the ground writhing in pain after an exchange with Burns, and Mazzagatti called the fight to protect Johnson, who was clearly unable to defend himself. Only after seeing the replay from a different camera angle was it seen that the reason for Johnson falling to the ground was due to one of Burns's open handed jabs landing deep into his eye. [2] After some confusion, Steve Mazzagatti stopped the bout. After the fight Johnson appealed the decision as being poked in the eye was a foul, but it was ultimately rejected due to lack of remedy. [3] Burns has claimed that the eye-jabs were not intentional and due to a prior broken hand, which he states forced him to punch with a looser hand.

Johnson defeated Burns with a third-round knockout in their rematch at The Ultimate Fighter 8 Finale.

Burns was defeated by Chris Lytle via unanimous decision in a back and forth war at The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale . The fight did prove to be positive as Burns was given an extra $25,000 for earning Fight of the Night.

Burns lost to T. J. Grant via first round TKO at UFC 107. After losing three straight bouts, Burns was released from the UFC.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed Martial Arts

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
19 matches12 wins7 losses
By knockout34
By submission80
By decision13
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss12–7James WoodDecision (unanimous)VFC 38: Roberts vs. ArochoDecember 15, 201255:00 Ralston, Nebraska, United StatesFor the VFC Welterweight Championship.
Win12–6Mark StoddardSubmission (shoulder choke)MCC 43: High OctaneOctober 12, 201212:52 Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Win11–6Mason TemiquelSubmission (rear-naked choke)MCC 42: Lund vs. SchmaussAugust 3, 201213:16 Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Loss10–6 Tom Speer Decision (split)Brutaal: Fight NightMay 11, 201235:00 Tama, Iowa, United States
Win10–5Eddie LarreaSubmission (rear-naked choke)MCC 37: Thanksgiving ThrowdownNovember 23, 201111:09 Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Loss9–5Koffi AdzitsoKO (punches)ZarMMA: Fight NightNovember 12, 201011:54 Layton, Utah, United States
Win9–4Kalel RobinsonSubmission (arm-triangle choke)MCC 28: ImpactAugust 6, 201013:18 Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Win8–4Sean HuffmanDecision (unanimous)MCC 25: InfernoMarch 13, 201035:00 Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Loss7–4 T. J. Grant TKO (punches) UFC 107 December 12, 200914:57 Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Loss7–3 Chris Lytle Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale June 20, 200935:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesFight of the Night.
Loss7–2 Anthony Johnson KO (head kick) The Ultimate Fighter 8 Finale December 13, 200830:28 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win7–1 Anthony Johnson TKO (eye poke) UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Irvin July 19, 200833:35 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesJohnson appealed for the result to be overturned which was rejected by NSAC. [8]
Win6–1 Roan Carneiro Submission (triangle choke) UFC 85 June 7, 200822:53 London, EnglandSubmission of the Night.
Win5–1 Bobby Voelker KO (punch)VFC 23: ValidationMay 9, 200810:30 Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States
Win4–1Steve SchneiderSubmission (triangle choke)GFC 2December 15, 200724:13 Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Win3–1Sean WestbrookSubmission (rear-naked choke)GFC 1: GenesisApril 20, 200713:22 Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Loss2–1 Jason High TKO (doctor stoppage)VFC 18: HitmenFebruary 16, 200725:00 Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States
Win2–0Matt DelanoitSubmission (armbar)VFC 17: PredatorsDecember 9, 200613:29 Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States
Win1–0Demi DeedsTKO (punches)Greensparks: Full Contact Fighting 1August 19, 200613:58 Clive, Iowa, United States

References

  1. "Kevin Burns". 14 September 2018.
  2. UFC Silva vs. Irvin Play-by-Play http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/ufc-silva-vs-irvin-play-by-play-13728
  3. "UFC News Archives - Cage Potato". Archived from the original on 2009-08-24. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  4. Thomas Gerbasi (December 28, 2008). "The Highly Unofficial 2008 UFC Awards - The Newcomers". Ultimate Fighting Championship .
  5. Thomas Gerbasi (July 7, 2008). "The Upsets - The Highly Unofficial Half-Year Awards". Ultimate Fighting Championship .
  6. Thomas Gerbasi (December 28, 2008). "The Highly Unofficial 2008 UFC Awards - The Upsets". Ultimate Fighting Championship .
  7. Thomas Gerbasi (December 28, 2008). "The Highly Unofficial 2008 UFC Awards - The Submissions". Ultimate Fighting Championship .
  8. "Anthony Johnson fails in attempt to have Kevin Burns result overturned". 14 September 2008.