Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott participated in the ceremonial face-off ahead of their welterweight bout at UFC Winnipeg. The event takes place on April 19, 2026. Burns is a veteran contender while Malott is a Canadian fighter looking to climb the rankings. No further details about the fighters' preparations or weigh-in results were provided in the post.
Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott stood across from each other at the ceremonial face-off on April 18, 2026, one day before their welterweight matchup headlines UFC Winnipeg.
Burns, known as "Durinho," enters the bout ranked 13th in the welterweight division at 39 years old. The Brazilian veteran, who trains out of Kill Cliff FC, carries a 22-10 record built over a long career near the top of the 170-pound class. Standing five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach, he averages 3.15 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and adds a consistent grappling threat with 2.12 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
Malott, nicknamed "Proper," represents the home country and brings a 14-2-1 record into the fight. The 34-year-old Canadian trains with Team Alpha Male and holds a physical edge over Burns, standing six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach. He is the more active striker of the two, landing 3.93 significant strikes per minute, and also poses a submission threat with 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Burns is a ranked contender looking to move back up the welterweight ladder at 39
- Malott, fighting in front of a home crowd in Winnipeg, could push himself into divisional rankings with a win
- The matchup pits Burns's wrestling-heavy, well-rounded game against Malott's output-heavy striking and submission activity
- Both fighters share identical 48 percent striking accuracy, making pace and volume a likely deciding factor
