The legend of the Bronx-born continues to grow

“Success is not final, and failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
-Winston Churchill

UFC 262 took place in the lone star state. And to the liking of the people of Texas, an all-out shootout between the Bronx-born, Shane Burgos, and the Brazilian, Edson Barboza had the entire arena in awe of what was an absolute barnburner. Even though the New Yorker’s trip back home was not as sweet as it would have been with a victory, the legend of the Bronx-born grew exponentially.

Burgos is no stranger to defying all odds. The New Yorker has been overcoming adversity since the moment he decided to go on his glory hunt. From conquering scoliosis at fifteen to debuting in the UFC on short notice with the pressure of performing in his backyard, “Hurricane” always found a way to flourish in affliction.

With the New Yorker’s last few outings, he showed the mixed martial arts world that undoubtedly, he is one of the most violent, electrifying fighters in our generation. However, what people might not know, is that Burgos has not even shown half of what he possesses in his vast arsenal.

To the new fans of “Hurricane,” most don’t know that his ground game is as vicious, and cerebral as his standup. Need proof? Combining his amateur, and professional record, Burgos has more submission finishes (9), than knockouts (7), on his resume.

In his last outing, the Bronx-born proved that his striking is on par with the all-time greats. Following Burgos’s incredible bout with Edson Barboza, the Brazillian vouched for Shane’s striking and ferociousness, labelling him as “one of the craziest strikers” he ever competed with. Given Barboza’s resume, such praise is colossal to affirm the New Yorker’s belief that, without a doubt, he is one of the absolute best in the world.

Usually, athletes who hold the most leverage in the sport are the ones riding the momentum from a long winning streak. However, every few years, a fighter shows up with all the skill in the world to become a world champion on any given night, but the savage inside of them tends to draw them into a shootout more than they would like.

Although Burgos was on the wrong side of his last two outings, you can arguably say that he won two rounds against Josh Emmet, and was on his way to victory against Barboza prior to getting caught.

The most fascinating part about the situation, despite the last two outcomes, Burgos’s stock is higher than ever. And history shows, the UFC brass will have a hefty seat reserved for those who electrify the crowds and masses whenever they make the walk. And the Bronx-born is certified for that powerful seat.

There is a blessing hidden in every trial in life, but you have to be willing to open your heart to see it. And with Shane welcoming his second daughter (Grace) on April 27, she was the missing link for him to open his heart and see the endless blessings coming his way in what’s about to unfold as a comeback for the ages.