All fighters successfully made weight for UFC Winnipeg. The main event between Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott is official, with both welterweights weighing in at 77.56 kg. Russians Mark Vologdin and Darya Zheleznyakova both made their contracted weights. Thiago Moises and John Castaneda required second attempts to make weight but ultimately succeeded. Castaneda had requested a catchweight bout at 63 kg and will forfeit 30% of his purse to Vologdin after making weight on the second try.
Every fighter on the UFC Winnipeg card successfully made weight on Friday, clearing the way for a full slate of bouts headlined by a welterweight clash between Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott.
Burns and Malott both hit the scales at 77.56 kg, making their main event official. Burns, known as "Durinho," is a 39-year-old Brazilian veteran fighting out of Kill Cliff FC. Ranked 13th in the welterweight division with a 22-10 record, he lands 3.15 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and adds a consistent grappling threat, averaging 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Russian fighters Mark Vologdin and Darya Zheleznyakova both came in at their contracted weights without issue. However, the weigh-in process was not entirely smooth for everyone on the card.
John Castaneda, the 34-year-old American known as "Sexi Mexi," required a second attempt to make weight for his bout with Vologdin. Castaneda had requested the fight be contested at a catchweight of 63 kg, and after needing that second attempt, he will forfeit 30 percent of his purse to Vologdin. The switch-stance fighter carries a 21-8-1 record and one of the sharper outputs in the division, landing 4.42 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy.
Thiago Moises, the 31-year-old Brazilian lightweight from American Top Team, also needed a second attempt before successfully hitting his mark. Moises holds a 19-10 record and is a well-rounded threat, averaging 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes to complement his striking.
Why it matters
- Burns enters as a ranked welterweight contender at 13th in the division, giving the main event clear ranking implications
- Castaneda's purse penalty adds an edge to his bout with Vologdin before the first punch is thrown
- Both Moises and Castaneda narrowly avoided potential bouts being scrapped, keeping the full card intact
