UFC on FOX 12 winners Gilbert Burns, Tiago Trator plan weight drops

SAN JOSE – It was a night of transitions for a pair of fighters on the UFC on FOX 12 preliminary card.

After their Saturday wins in San Jose, both Gilbert Burns and Tiago Trator said they will drop down a weight class for their next UFC fights.

Burns (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) made his UFC debut against fellow unbeaten newcomer Andreas Stahl (9-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) and took home a unanimous decision win. The Brazilian also serves as upcoming UFC middleweight title challenger Vitor Belfort’s jiu-jitsu coach.

Trator (19-4-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) made his promotional debut as well, also against another debuting fighter in Akbarh Arreola (22-8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC). Like Burns, he walked away with a unanimous nod from the judges on the preliminary card at SAP Center in a bout that streamed on UFC Fight Pass.

After staying unbeaten, Burns said he’ll make the drop from welterweight to lightweight, his natural home, for his next bout.

“Next for me is going to be at 155 – that’s where I come from; that’s my division,” Burns said. “I just did 170 because it’s hard for me to make 155. But my next fight will be at lightweight. I’m ready and I will reign in that division. I’ll be ready to fight in about two months. I’m ready. I’m hungry.”

Trator, who trains with the Nogueira brothers in Brazil, said the infamous “octagon jitters” may have gotten to him against Arreola, despite getting a pair of 30-27 scores from the judges.

But a drop to his natural weight class awaits, as well.

“I was a little nervous and I think that’s why I only ended up showing the fans 70 percent of what Im capable of,” Trator said. “Next time, I’ll be prepared and give 100 percent. To do that, I need to fight at my natural weight class, and that’s featherweight. So next time you see me, I’ll be at 145 pounds.”

For complete coverage of UFC on FOX 12, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.