An analysis piece discusses several fights on the UFC Winnipeg card, with particular focus on the Gilbert Burns vs. Mike Malott bout. The author argues that Burns has consistently defeated or troubled high-level opponents throughout his career, while Malott struggled when facing elevated competition. Malott's previous performances against Neil Magny and Kevin Holland are cited as evidence of his limitations against top opposition. The post characterizes betting or rooting against Burns in this matchup as "the greatest stupidity." The piece also briefly mentions other fights on the card, including debuting knockout artist Barbosa and fan favorite Charles Jourdain.
A recent analysis piece makes the case that Gilbert Burns should be a heavy favorite heading into his welterweight bout against Mike Malott at UFC Winnipeg, going as far as calling it the greatest stupidity to bet or root against the Brazilian veteran in this matchup.
Burns, nicknamed "Durinho," enters the fight ranked 13th in the welterweight division with a professional record of 22-10. The 39-year-old from Brazil trains out of Kill Cliff FC and has long been considered one of the more dangerous all-around fighters at 170 pounds. Standing five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach, Burns lands 3.15 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also averaging 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a genuine threat in every phase of a fight. The analysis credits his sustained success against high-level opposition as the central argument for his edge over Malott.
The piece uses Malott's previous outings against Neil Magny and Kevin Holland as evidence that the Canadian welterweight has struggled when the level of competition rises. Magny, a 38-year-old veteran carrying a 31-15 record with Elevation Fight Team, brings a six-foot-three frame and a 80-inch reach to every fight. Holland, also six-foot-three with an 81-inch reach, posts an impressive 4.26 significant strikes per minute across his 29-15 career. That Malott ran into difficulty against opponents of that caliber forms the backbone of the analytical argument favoring Burns.
Why it matters
- Burns at 13th in the division still has the profile to affect the welterweight rankings with a strong performance
- Malott's performances against Magny and Holland raise questions about his ceiling at the top of the division
- The stylistic contrast between Burns's well-rounded grappling and striking and Malott's game sets up a meaningful style test
- UFC Winnipeg also features debuting knockout artist Barbosa and fan favorite Charles Jourdain, adding further intrigue to the card
