Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott completed their official face-off ahead of their bout at UFC Winnipeg. The staredown between the two welterweight fighters was captured on video. Burns, a veteran Brazilian grappler, will face Canadian rising prospect Malott in what is expected to be a key welterweight matchup. UFC Winnipeg is scheduled to take place on April 19, 2026.
Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott stood across from each other at the official face-off on Friday, one day before their welterweight bout headlines UFC Winnipeg on April 19, 2026.
Burns, known as "Durinho," enters the fight ranked 13th in the welterweight division with a professional record of 22-10. The 39-year-old Brazilian trains out of Kill Cliff FC and has long been regarded as one of the most dangerous grapplers in the 170-pound weight class. He averages 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 3.15 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, combining ground threat with steady output on the feet.
Malott, nicknamed "Proper," represents the home country and brings a record of 14-2-1 into the fight. The 34-year-old Canadian trains with Team Alpha Male and has built his reputation as a well-rounded fighter with an edge in striking volume. He averages 3.93 significant strikes per minute, also at 48 percent accuracy, and adds 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes to his arsenal. At six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach, he holds physical advantages over Burns, who stands five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach.
Why it matters
- Burns, ranked 13th at welterweight, is looking to re-establish himself among the division's elite at 39 years old
- Malott fighting in front of a Canadian crowd adds significant pressure and energy to the matchup
- Both fighters share identical striking accuracy and bring submission threats, making the stylistic clash difficult to predict
- A Malott win could push the Canadian prospect into the divisional rankings for the first time or higher
