Gilbert Burns is putting the finishing touches on his training camp in preparation for his bout against Mike Malott. The official weigh-ins are scheduled for today, with the fight taking place Saturday night into Sunday. Burns is looking to end a losing streak against the Canadian opponent. The post asks fans whether they believe Burns can get back in the win column and overcome his recent struggles. This represents an important bounce-back opportunity for the Brazilian veteran.
Gilbert Burns has wrapped up his training camp and is set to step on the scales Friday ahead of his welterweight clash with Canada's Mike Malott at UFC Winnipeg, with the fight scheduled for Saturday night.
Burns, known as "Durinho," enters the bout ranked 13th in the welterweight division and carrying a record of 22-10. The 39-year-old Brazilian trains out of Kill Cliff FC and brings a well-rounded game to the octagon, averaging 3.15 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also threatening with 2.12 takedown attempts per 15 minutes. After a stretch of losses, Burns is desperate to reverse his fortunes and remind the division he remains a legitimate threat.
Standing across from him will be Mike Malott, the 34-year-old Canadian nicknamed "Proper" who competes out of Team Alpha Male. Malott holds a record of 14-2-1 and carries a notably high output, landing 3.93 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. At six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach, he holds physical advantages over Burns in both height and reach, and his 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes signal genuine finishing ability on the mat.
Why it matters
- Burns enters on a losing skid, making this a critical bounce-back fight to stay relevant in the welterweight top 15
- A Malott win would strengthen his case for a higher divisional ranking and continued momentum in a stacked 170-pound division
- Both fighters share identical striking accuracy at 48 percent, setting up a closely matched standup battle
- Burns's takedown volume could be the differentiating factor against the taller, longer Malott
