Kevin Burns

Kevin ‘The Fire’ Burns – MMA Profile

Kevin Burns doesn’t live the high-profile life of many MMA fighters. While his peers dress in flashy clothes and act brashly for the camera, Burns works at a full-time job as a commercial leasing agent for Well Fargo. Nicknamed “The Fire,” Burns has quickly carved a space for himself within the Octagon, impressing spectators and UFC veterans. His record stands at 8 wins and 1 loss, evidence that he could become a star on the MMA circuit.

Burns devoted himself to learning the martial arts after playing football throughout his college years. Armed with a degree in Business, he went to work for Wells Fargo in Des Moines, Iowa while developing his fighting skills. His style is a blend of Muay Thai kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Tae Kwon Do (in which he has a black belt). Burns’ first professional MMA bout was in 2006 and he has since become the Welterweight title holder of the Victory Fighting Championship.

Working full-time and pursuing an MMA career has its challenges. In 2008, Burns was given the opportunity to compete in the UFC against Roan Carneiro. The only catch: he had 9 days to prepare, including training for the fight, securing vacation time from his job and flying to England for the bout. In the end, it paid off and he defeated Carneiro during the second round.

Burns favors a left hook when striking and a dominating arm bar when grappling. It’s a well-rounded approach that has earned him victories against lesser trained fighters. Since 2006, he has beaten notable competitors such as Anthony Johnson, Matt Delanoit, and Steve Schneider. To date, Burns’ only loss came at the hands of Jason High when a doctor stopped the fight.

As a result of breaking his left hand 3 times within 16 months, Burns has developed a unique “palm striking” style. It has drawn some criticism from fans because of its tendency to lead to eye-poking. Burns contends that his palm strike is due to not being able to make a fist properly until the bones in his hand fuse together. While the future is a mystery, this full-time leasing agent seems to have a promising career as an impressive fighter within the UFC.