Gilbert Burns isn't done with the fight game—he's just swapping the Octagon for the mats. Less than a month after hanging up his MMA gloves, the former UFC welterweight contender has signed with UFC BJJ, marking a return to his jiu-jitsu roots.

Multiple sources confirmed the news to MMA Fighting, though UFC BJJ has yet to announce an official debut date. The plan, however, is for "Durinho" to step into the bowl for his first match in the coming months.

Burns, who turns 40 this July, made his final UFC appearance this past April at UFC Winnipeg—a main event loss to Mike Malott in Canada. In the aftermath, he outlined his retirement plans: returning to jiu-jitsu, working as an MMA manager, and running his own gym in the United States.

His UFC career, spanning 2014 to 2026, saw him go 15-10 under the promotion's banner. Along the way, he notched signature wins over former champions and contenders like Tyron Woodley, Demian Maia, Stephen Thompson, and Jorge Masvidal. He also dabbled in grappling during his UFC tenure, defeating standouts such as Rafael Lovato Jr., Jake Shields, AJ Agazarm, and Gleison Tibau.

Before transitioning to MMA in 2012, Burns was already a decorated jiu-jitsu competitor. He won gold at the IBJJF World Championship in 2011 and captured the 2010 IBJJF no-gi world title. Some of his biggest wins on the mats came against legends like Kron Gracie, Leandro Lo, and Celso Venicius—a pedigree that makes his return to competitive grappling a natural fit.

UFC BJJ's next event is scheduled for May 21 at the Meta APEX, headlined by two title fights: Mikey Musumeci vs. Kevin Dantzler and Cassia Moura vs. Bia Basilio. With Burns in the mix, fans can expect a jolt of excitement as one of MMA's most well-rounded talents brings his elite grappling back to center stage.