Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott completed their official face-off ahead of their welterweight bout at UFC Winnipeg. The staredown took place as part of the pre-fight ceremonials for the event. Both fighters will compete on the card scheduled in Winnipeg, Canada. The bout represents a significant test for Malott against the veteran Burns. No further details about the face-off interaction were provided.
Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott stood across from each other at the official pre-fight face-off ahead of their welterweight matchup at UFC Winnipeg, set to take place in Winnipeg, Canada on April 18, 2026.
Burns, nicknamed "Durinho," enters the bout ranked 13th in the welterweight division. The 39-year-old Brazilian, who trains out of Kill Cliff FC, carries a professional record of 22-10-0 and brings considerable UFC experience to the matchup. Standing five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach, Burns averages 3.15 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and supplements his striking with a strong grappling game, averaging 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Malott, known as "Proper," is a 34-year-old Canadian competing in front of a home crowd. He holds a record of 14-2-1 and trains with Team Alpha Male. At six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach, Malott has an edge in size over Burns and is the more active striker, averaging 3.93 significant strikes per minute at the same 48 percent accuracy. He also contributes on the ground with 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Burns is a ranked veteran whose losses have come against elite welterweight competition, making him a serious measuring stick for Malott.
- Malott competes in his home country, adding crowd-driven stakes to an already meaningful divisional test.
- Both fighters share identical striking accuracy, setting up a technically competitive stand-up exchange, while Burns holds the takedown volume advantage on the ground.
- A strong performance from either man could carry real weight in the welterweight rankings picture.
