All fighters successfully made weight for UFC Winnipeg, with the main event between Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott officially confirmed. Russian fighters Mark Vologdin and Daria Zheleznyakova also made their contracted weights without issue. Thiago Moises and John Castaneda both required a second attempt to make weight but ultimately succeeded. Notably, Castaneda had requested a catchweight of 63 kg the previous evening, which Vologdin agreed to accept. As part of this agreement, Castaneda will forfeit 30% of his purse to Vologdin. With all weight requirements met, every scheduled bout on the card is proceeding as planned.
Every fighter on the UFC Winnipeg card made weight on April 17, clearing the way for a full slate of bouts with no cancellations.
The main event between Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott is officially confirmed after both men hit their marks without difficulty. Burns, the 39-year-old Brazilian welterweight out of Kill Cliff FC, carries a 22-10-0 record into the fight and is ranked 13th in the division. The southpaw-pressuring orthodox striker lands 3.15 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and also brings a credible grappling threat, averaging 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Russian fighters Mark Vologdin and Daria Zheleznyakova also weighed in cleanly on their first attempts, adding stability to the undercard.
Thiago Moises and John Castaneda each needed a second trip to the scale before making weight. Moises, a 31-year-old Brazilian lightweight from American Top Team, holds a 19-10-0 record and is a submission threat, averaging 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes. Castaneda, the 34-year-old American known as "Sexi Mexi," comes in at 21-8-1 and is one of the more active strikers on the card, landing 4.42 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy.
Castaneda's weight situation carried an added layer of complication. The previous evening he had requested a catchweight of 63 kg, and Vologdin agreed to accept the adjusted limit. As a condition of that agreement, Castaneda will forfeit 30 percent of his purse to Vologdin. Despite ultimately making the originally contracted weight on his second attempt, the financial penalty from the catchweight agreement remains in place.
Why it matters
- Burns, ranked 13th at welterweight, needs a strong performance to climb back up the divisional ladder
- Castaneda's purse forfeiture adds a financial consequence even though the bout proceeds at full contracted weight
- All bouts on the card are confirmed, preserving the full event
