CALGARY, AB - JULY 28: John Makdessi of Canada prepares to fight Ross Pearson of England in their lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Scotiabank Saddledome on July 28, 2018 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

UFC lightweight John Makdessi on Gilbert Burns’ recent callout for UFC Philadelphia: “He has my full attention.”

Gilbert Burns has his eyes on his next opponent — and he’s looking at UFC lightweight John Makdessi. Burns told MMA Junkie that he was interested in fighting the Lebanese-Canadian at the UFC’s long-awaited return in Pittsburgh, PA and it looks like Makdessi is just as interested in the potential barn burner as we are.

“I never call out my opponents. I always fight whoever the UFC matches me up with,” Makdessi told FanSided on Monday. “But I like when someone calls me out. It kind of gives me a target to focus on. Now he has my full attention.”

Burns is coming off a victory over fellow Canadian Olivier Aubin-Mercier at UFC 231.

“He’s been beating Canadian fighters and I’m a Lebanese-Canadian fighter,” he said. “Everyone knows my style, I always stand up and make an exciting fight and he seems the type to put on an exciting fight and we could be a good match-up for the fans. Georges St- Pierre retired and the Canadian market has slumped. I want to be the one that brings the fans back to Canadian fighters. I want to be the inspiration for other Canadian fighters.”

Makdessi is on a two-fight win streak with recent wins over Abel Trujillo and a Fight of the Night bonus victory over Ross Pearson at UFC Calgary.

“100 percent,” Makdessi said when asked if he’d take the fight with Burns should it be offered.

He admits that if not for the call-out Burns wouldn’t have been on his radar but now that the idea has been placed in front of him, and he’s had time to discuss the idea with his team at Roufusport and his coach and mentor Duke Roufus, he’s ready. Makdessi says he’s healthy and healed, following an injury that forced him out of his bout at UFC 231 and believes a fight with Burns in Philadelphia could be right for him next.

UFC Philadelphia takes place on Saturday, March 30, 2019, live from the Wells Fargo Center. This will be the first time the UFC has traveled back to the city since 2011.