Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott face off ahead of UFC Winnipeg

Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott stood across from each other at the official face-off ahead of their welterweight matchup at UFC Winnipeg, with footage of the staredown shared by UFC Eurasia. Both fighters appeared focused and composed as they completed the final pre-fight promotional obligation before stepping into the octagon.

Burns, nicknamed "Durinho," enters the bout at 39 years old carrying a professional record of 22-10-0. The Brazilian veteran, who trains out of Kill Cliff FC, is ranked 13th in the welterweight division and stands five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach. A well-rounded threat, Burns averages 3.15 significant strikes per minute and 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes, underlining his ability to impose himself both on the feet and on the mat.

Malott, known as "Proper," holds a record of 14-2-1 and represents the home nation in Winnipeg as a Canadian fighter. The 34-year-old stands six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach and trains with Team Alpha Male. He edges Burns in striking output, averaging 3.93 significant strikes per minute, and also contributes with 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a danger across multiple areas of the game.

Why it matters

• Burns, a former title challenger, looks to climb back up the welterweight rankings from the 13th position
• Malott fights in front of a home crowd in Winnipeg, adding extra weight to the result
• Both men share identical striking accuracy at 48 percent, pointing to a closely contested exchange on the feet
• The bout carries divisional implications, with a strong performance from either fighter likely reshaping the 170-pound landscape