UFC 268: The Bronx-Born Returns Home

New York’s Madison Square Garden has been the mecca of combat sports since the late 60s, and as the UFC gears up to make their long-awaited return on November 6th, it was only fitting for the Bronx-born to return home.

“Hurricane” Shane Burgos is swiftly becoming one of this generation’s most electrifying fighters, and although Shane’s last two outcomes didn’t unfold as desired, his stock, however, is at an all-time high, especially with his last performance.

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.

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, people might not know 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 them tend to draw them into a shootout more than they would like.

As history shows, the UFC brass will always have a hefty seat reserved for those who electrify the crowds and masses whenever they make the walk. And the Bronx-born is unquestionably certified for that powerful seat.

Burgos looks to become 3-0 in Madison Square Garden when he meets the streaking 32-year-old Billy Quarantillo, who is 9-1 in his last 10 fights.

The Bronx-born’s last fight at MSG was one of the most artistic, poetic and cerebral performances you’ll ever see. The way Shane overcame the early storm then slowly broke Amirkani down to the body, and when he(Burgos) went up top, Amirkani went down.

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 27th, I genuinely believe that she was the missing link for Shane to open his heart and see the endless blessings coming his way in what’s about to unfold as a comeback for the ages.