Creator credit recorded on the linked source page: Show Me The Money · CC BY 3.0
Gilbert Burns
“Durinho”
Source: ufc.comFrom a 2011 world title to a 2026 UFC BJJ return, Gilbert Burns’s path connects competition, coaching, and black-belt lineage.
Biography
Sources for this profile
The Atlantic Current, “Q&A With Gilbert Burns,” 5 June 2017.(opens in a new tab)
Burns explained that Durinho means the little tough one and arose as a smaller counterpart to his older brother's tough-guy nickname.
Where in the source: Q&A question on the nickname Durinho — anchor: “the little tough one”.
Accessed:
In a 2017 Q&A, Burns said teaching jiu-jitsu let him see students develop and made him learn by having to explain why techniques work.
Where in the source: Q&A question “What’s your favorite part about teaching jiu-jitsu?” — anchor: “learn and see people evolve”.
Accessed:
Nevada State Athletic Commission, “Mixed Martial Arts Show Results,” 7 July 2018.(opens in a new tab)
The Nevada Athletic Commission's results for 7 July 2018 list the fighter as Gilbert Alexander Pontes Burns and give his date of birth as 20 July 1986.
Where in the source: Mixed Martial Arts Show Results, 7 July 2018, page 2 contestants table — Daniel Preston Hooker vs. Gilbert Alexander Pontes Burns; paired Date of Birth values 02/13/90 and 07/20/86.
Accessed:
UFC, “Gilbert Burns,” athlete profile, accessed 8 September 2026.(opens in a new tab)
UFC's athlete profile identifies Gilbert Burns by the nickname Durinho, lists Brazilian jiu-jitsu as his fighting style and marks his UFC athlete status as retired.
Where in the source: Gilbert Burns athlete header and Info panel — anchors: “DURINHO”, “RETIRED”, and “BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU”.
Accessed:
Helder Sturari, “Gilbert Durinho relembra origens no jiu-jítsu antes da estreia no UFC BJJ 9,” UFC Brazil, 26 May 2026.(opens in a new tab)
A May 2026 UFC Brazil feature describes Gilbert Burns as a Brazilian multi-title jiu-jitsu black belt returning to grappling after retiring from MMA.
Where in the source: Opening section — the profile calls him “Faixa-preta multicampeão” and places the return after his MMA retirement.
Accessed:
UFC Brazil identifies Gilbert Burns as Brazilian in its account of his return to jiu-jitsu competition.
Where in the source: Opening paragraph — anchor: “o brasileiro fará sua estreia”.
Accessed:
In a 2026 first-hand UFC interview, Burns traced his jiu-jitsu start to age 12 in Niterói, training with his brothers after their father exchanged auto-upholstery work for an initial period of lessons.
Where in the source: Opening and first-hand interview — anchors: “aquele Gilbert de 12 anos” and “o pai recebeu bolsas de treino como forma de pagamento”.
Accessed:
BJJ Heroes, “Gilbert Burns ‘Durinho’,” no exact publication date shown; accessed 8 September 2026.(opens in a new tab)
BJJ Heroes describes Atos as a former association, states that Burns left the team in October 2011 and leaves its current Team/Association field blank.
Where in the source: Team/Association field and October 2011 departure paragraph — anchor: “officially left the Atos team”.
Accessed:
BJJ Heroes names Luis Carlos da Fonseca as Burns's first jiu-jitsu instructor, Ramon Lemos as the coach who later took over the group, and André Pederneiras, Max Câmara and Rafael Fofitio Barros among the coaches in his formative training network.
Where in the source: Gilbert Burns Biography — the paragraphs beginning with his first instructor and Ramon Lemos; the latter also names Pederneiras, Max Câmara and Fofitio.
Accessed:
BJJ Heroes states that Rafael Fofitio Barros promoted Burns to black belt in 2007 and places Fofitio immediately before Burns in its lineage.
Where in the source: Jiu-Jitsu lineage and 2007 promotion paragraph — anchor: “promoted to black belt”.
Accessed:
BJJ Heroes lists Burns as the 2010 IBJJF World No-Gi champion and the 2010 UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro champion.
Where in the source: Main Achievements — the two 2010 entries for World No-Gi and Abu Dhabi World Pro first place.
Accessed:
International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, “World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2009,” official results.(opens in a new tab)
The official 2009 World Championship results place Gilbert Burns second in the Adult Male Black Belt Light division while representing Atos.
Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Light — 1 Michael Langhi, 2 Gilbert Burns (Atos), 3 Philipe Della Monica, 3 Rafael Barbosa; adjacent Feather and Middle divisions inspected.
Accessed:
International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, “Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu 2010,” official results.(opens in a new tab)
The official 2010 Brazilian Championship results place Gilbert Burns first in the Adult Male Black Belt Light division while representing Atos.
Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Light — 1 Gilbert Burns (Atos), 2 Jonathan Torres, 3 Vitor Henrique de Oliveira, 3 Augusto Lopes Mendes; adjacent Feather and Middle divisions inspected.
Accessed:
International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, “World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2011,” official results.(opens in a new tab)
The official 2011 World Championship results place Gilbert Burns first in the Adult Male Black Belt Light division while representing Atos.
Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Light — 1 Gilbert Burns (Atos), 2 Kron Gracie, 3 Michael Langhi, 3 Jonathan Torres; adjacent Feather and Middle divisions inspected.
Accessed:
Carlos Eduardo Ozório, “Treinador de JJ do Time Vitor, Gilbert Durinho,” UFC, 16 May 2012.(opens in a new tab)
A 2012 UFC profile identifies Burns as the coach responsible for Team Vitor's jiu-jitsu on The Ultimate Fighter Brazil and says he had trained Vitor Belfort for the Akiyama and Johnson bouts.
Where in the source: Opening and coaching paragraphs — Burns is “o técnico responsável” for Team Vitor's jiu-jitsu; later paragraph names Belfort's Akiyama and Johnson bouts.
Accessed:
Guilherme Cruz, “Mikey Musumeci open to MMA move in the UFC, but first mission is to make jiu-jitsu popular,” MMA Fighting, 24 November 2024.(opens in a new tab)
MMA Fighting reported in 2024 that Mikey Musumeci trained with Gilbert Burns and had received a jiu-jitsu black belt from him.
Where in the source: Paragraph on Musumeci's MMA training network — anchor: “He trains with Gilbert Burns, who has given him his black belt in jiu-jitsu”.
Accessed:
Simon Head, “UFC BJJ 9: Fowler vs Johnson Results,” UFC, 5 June 2026.(opens in a new tab)
At UFC BJJ 9 on 4 June 2026, Burns won his UFC BJJ middleweight debut against Horlando Monteiro by rear-naked choke at 1:22 of round one.
Where in the source: Results, Recaps & Interviews — heading: “Gilbert Burns defeats Horlando Monteiro by submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:22 of Round 1”; the recap calls it his UFC BJJ debut as a middleweight.
Accessed:
ADCC Federation, “ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship 2015,” official results, 29 August 2015.(opens in a new tab)
The ADCC Federation's official 2015 World Championship results place Gilbert Burns third, with a bronze medal, in the men's -77 kg division.
Where in the source: Official Results > 2015 Results — -77kg: Davi Ramos gold, Lucas Lepri silver, Gilbert Burns bronze (3rd), Otavio Souza fourth; the neighboring -66kg and -88kg blocks were inspected.
Accessed:
Competition results
| Year | Event | Result | Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | ADCC 2015Source: adcombat.com-77 kgNo-giVerified | 3rd place | -77 kgNo-giVerified |
| 2011 | IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-76 kgGiVerified | 1st place | -76 kgGiVerified |