Justin Burlinson Record, stats and next fight

Analysis

Justin Burlinson is an English welterweight, the reigning Cage Warriors champion since April 2025. His professional record stands at 10 wins and 2 losses, eight of them by submission, across a career that began in 2017.

Career

Justin Burlinson was born on May 19, 1997, in Sunderland, England. Trained at the Dungeon BJJ and MMA Academy, he turned professional at welterweight on August 19, 2017, submitting Ole Magnor by guillotine at Olympus Fighting Championships. He added two more finishes, by submission and TKO: Josh Plant at BAMMA 33 on December 15, 2017, then Tommy King at BAMMA 34 on March 9, 2018, staying unbeaten through his first three professional fights, all ended before the final bell.

Bellator Career

Burlinson signed with Bellator and extended his streak. On February 9, 2019, he submitted Maciej Gierszewski by rear-naked choke at an event held in Newcastle. On June 22 of the same year, he stopped Wendle Lewis by TKO at Bellator 223, pushing his professional record to 7 wins without a loss before his first setback.

Dana White’s Contender Series Career

On November 2, 2021, Burlinson tried his hand at Dana White’s Contender Series, the UFC’s pipeline for fighters outside the organization. He lost by first-round KO to Yohan Lainesse, his first professional loss, without earning a UFC contract after the fight.

Cage Warriors Career

Burlinson has built the bulk of his career at Cage Warriors. On June 25, 2021, he submitted David Bear at Cage Warriors 124. On April 1, 2022, he added a submission over Daniel Skibinski at Cage Warriors 135, before losing on June 25 by third-round KO to Rhys McKee, who retained the welterweight title at Cage Warriors 140. It was his second professional loss, and his first in the British promotion.

Burlinson rebounded: a technical submission over Jamie Richardson at Cage Warriors 150 on March 17, 2023, then an arm triangle choke over Theodor Berggren at Cage Warriors 181 on November 23, 2024. On April 26, 2025, he faced James Sheehan for the vacant welterweight title at Cage Warriors 188 and submitted him by guillotine in the fourth round, becoming champion in a promotion that has also featured Jai Herbert.

Fighting Style

Justin Burlinson’s record is dominated by the submission: 8 of his 10 wins have ended on the ground, against 2 by KO or TKO and none by decision. His title-winning guillotine over James Sheehan, after three and a half rounds of action, confirms a jiu-jitsu game capable of finishing at any point in a fight, from the first round against Ole Magnor to the fourth against Sheehan.

Across his twelve professional fights, Burlinson has never needed to go to the judges’ decision: each of his ten wins and each of his two losses has been settled by a finish, whether a submission, a KO, or a TKO. This profile stands apart from many Cage Warriors champions, whose fights more often go the full three rounds.

Record

• Professional record: 10 wins, 2 losses
• Wins by KO or TKO: 2
• Wins by submission: 8
• Wins by decision: 0
• Title: Cage Warriors welterweight champion since April 26, 2025

Fighter Profile

• Full name: Justin Burlinson
• Nickname: none on record
• Born: May 19, 1997, Sunderland, England
• Nationality: English
• Height: 6’1″ (185 cm)
• Reach: 6’2″ (188 cm)
• Division: welterweight
• Team: The Dungeon BJJ and MMA Academy
• Coach: not reported
• Base: Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Sources

• www.sherdog.com
• www.tapology.com
• www.fightmatrix.com