Since making the permanent move to 170-pounds, everything has been clicking on all cylinders for Gilbert Burns. On March 14, “Durinho” will have the opportunity to make a huge leap up the welterweight divisional ladder.

Burns will take on multiple time UFC title challenger Demian Maia in the co-main event at UFC on ESPN+ 28. The event takes place at the Ginásio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil and will be headlined by a lightweight bout between Kevin Lee and Charles Oliveira.

On Tuesday, Burns joined The Scrap to discuss why the fight is so special, the long road it took to make it a reality, his brother Herbert’s fantastic UFC debut, competing at Quintet Ultra and Submission Underground in a 10-day span against some of the biggest names in grappling, when he first started paying attention to Maia, making plans to train together before the fight was booked, how he visualizes the fight being finished, Kobe Bryant’s impact on his life, and much more.

Check out the full interview with Gilbert Burns ahead of his co-main event bout against Demian Maia at UFC Brasilia in the video below.