Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott participated in their official staredown ahead of UFC Winnipeg. The face-off was shared by UFC Eurasia. Burns and Malott are set to compete at the upcoming event in Canada. The weigh-ins and fighter faceoffs are part of standard pre-fight week procedures. No additional details about the matchup were provided in the announcement.
Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott came face to face at the official staredown ahead of UFC Winnipeg, with footage of the moment shared by UFC Eurasia as fight week formalities got underway.
Burns, known as "Durinho," enters the bout as one of the more decorated names in the welterweight division. The 39-year-old Brazilian holds a professional record of 22-10 and is currently ranked 13th in the division. Fighting out of Kill Cliff FC, Burns stands five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach and brings a well-rounded skill set to the cage, averaging 3.15 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also threatening on the mat with 2.12 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
Malott, nicknamed "Proper," represents the host country and will enjoy strong home support in Winnipeg. The 34-year-old Canadian carries a record of 14-2-1 and trains out of Team Alpha Male. At six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach, he holds a size advantage over Burns and is the busier striker of the two, landing 3.93 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. He also poses a submission threat, averaging 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Burns is a former title contender and ranked welterweight looking to arrest any slide down the divisional ladder
- Malott fights in front of a home crowd, adding extra stakes to what is already a meaningful matchup
- Both fighters share identical striking accuracy, making volume and physical advantages potentially decisive
- The size and reach edge belongs to Malott, while Burns counters with superior takedown output and grappling credentials
