Russell Westbrook caught an unexpected stray Saturday night during UFC 288, and he wasn’t even in the building at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
During the broadcast for Saturday’s UFC event, which was headlined by Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo, Daniel Cormier revealed his keys to victory for Gilbert Burns in his co-main welterweight clash against Belal Muhammad.
Cormier’s list, which appeared as a graphic titled “DC’s Keys To Victory” for the audience watching on television at home, included three instructions for Burns; “Close The Distance,” “Secure Takedowns” and “Don’t Be Russell Westbrook.”
Russell Westbrook caught a stray pic.twitter.com/fZzsaRrleg
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) May 7, 2023
Cormier attempted to make a comparison between Burns’s efforts to become a UFC champion and Westbrook’s NBA career, during which a ring has evaded him. Westbrook reached the NBA Finals with the Thunder in 2011-12, but Oklahoma City was defeated by the Heat in five games. He has not been back to the Finals since.
Burns, on the other hand, entered Saturday’s fight against Muhammad needing a win to earn a title fight, something Dana White previously guaranteed for the winner at UFC 288.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem as if Burns stuck to Cormier’s recommended strategy quite closely enough. With a title fight on the line, the 36-year-old Brazilian was defeated via decision after five rounds.
Following the loss at UFC 288, Burns owns a career record of 22-6-0.
