There are very few people, if any, who could have better insight into Saturday’s UFC 310 co-main event than Gilbert Burns.

Burns, a former UFC welterweight title challenger and longtime contender in the division, has trained with both Ian Machado Garry and Shavkat Rakhmonov at Kill Cliff in South Florida. There has been a lot of talk about Rakhmonov putting Machado Garry up in sparring, and yet Burns believes Machado Garry can get the job done.

“I think so (Machado Garry can beat Rakhmonov), and again, I’m not in the gym and I’m not part of anyone. I was in Brazil, I just had surgery so I’m not training, I’m a little bit out of both guys’ camp,” Burns said on Show Me The Money. “When a guy says that and Ian’s clip is only 20, 30 seconds long, I just feel like Shavkat is overconfident because he’s subbed him before (in training).”

Forget the past?

Burns believes Machado Garry (18-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) has improved greatly since that much-discussed training session at Kill Cliff. In his opinion, Rakhmonov (15-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) should be careful and not place too much emphasis on the past.

“The guy that Shavkat finished a year or two ago is not the same right now,” Burns said. “That’s why I kind of like going with Ian. Again, I like both guys. Shavkat is now part of the team, but as I said, I was not part of the camp. I like both guys so I don’t choose Ian because I don’t like Shavkat. I like both boys.”

Saturday’s co-main event fight is scheduled to last 25 minutes. Burns believes the length of the fight works in Rakhmonov’s favor – making it difficult to predict.

“I don’t think (his wrestling is good enough to get takedowns whenever he wants),” Burns said. “I think he’s very good at wrestling. I think he can do a lot of body locks and against the cage he’s very good, very big. He can box very well and is not afraid to get hit or go for a takedown. I think if the fight was three rounds I would bet on Ian Garry because in three rounds he can be in and out like Ciryl Gane. But maybe five rounds. It depends on how the first few rounds go.”

For more information on the card, check out MMA Junkie’s UFC 310 event hub.