Herbert Burns, Rafael Alves offered Contender Series deals after Titan FC 54

Herbert Burns’ plan for Titan FC 54 was pretty clear: Submit Luis Gomez, impress Dana White and earn a contract with the UFC.

In the end, he got everything but the UFC deal, but he didn’t leave empty-handed, as “The Blaze” was offered a contract with White’s Contender Series, he told MMA Fighting.

Burns’ countryman Rafael Alves, who captured the interim lightweight title in the co-main event, was also offered a Contender Series deal, Burns said.

MyMMANews first reported the news.

Already in Fort Lauderdale for Saturday night’s UFC Fight Night card headlined by Ronaldo Souza vs. Jack Hermansson, White was in attendance at Titan FC 45 on Friday to shoot an episode of “Lookin’ for a Fight.” He watched Burns (8-2), brother of UFC lightweight Gilbert Burns, choke Gomez out at the 2:24 mark.

Alves made the most of his opportunity in front of the UFC president by submitting Felipe Douglas to improve to 18-9 as a fighter and capture the Titan FC interim title.

“After the fight, [White] called Rafael and I upstairs and offered us a fight at the Contender Series,” Burns told MMA Fighting. “I imagined going straight to the UFC, I dominated a former champion and finished him pretty quickly. I expected a UFC contract — if they change their minds I’ll be even happier [laughs] — but I’m thrilled right now.

“I’ll kill another lion there and then earn this contract.”

In the main event of Titan FC 54, Jason Soares defended the featherweight title with a fourth-round TKO win over short-notice replacement Ariston Franca.