Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott faced off for the final time before their main event bout at UFC Winnipeg. The faceoff was the last promotional appearance before the fighters enter the octagon. Burns and Malott will headline the card in Winnipeg. The post included a call for fans to show their support for either fighter. No additional details about weight or fight specifics were provided.
Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott completed their final pre-fight faceoff ahead of their welterweight main event at UFC Winnipeg, with the two fighters set to headline the card following the last of their promotional appearances together.
Burns, known as "Durinho," enters the fight as the ranked No. 13 welterweight in the UFC. The 39-year-old Brazilian, who trains out of Kill Cliff FC, carries a professional record of 22-10 and has long been one of the more complete fighters in the division. Standing five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach, Burns lands 3.15 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and adds a consistent wrestling dimension, averaging 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Malott, nicknamed "Proper," represents the home country as a Canadian fighting in Winnipeg, a factor that figures to make for a charged atmosphere inside the arena. The 34-year-old Team Alpha Male product holds a record of 14-2-1 and brings a slightly larger frame at six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach. He out-paces Burns in striking volume at 3.93 significant strikes per minute and posts 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes, giving him a varied offensive game.
Why it matters
- Burns at No. 13 in the welterweight rankings gives the bout genuine divisional consequence, with a Malott win potentially cracking the top 15
- Malott fighting in Canada adds significant crowd energy that could play a role across five rounds
- Both fighters share identical 48 percent striking accuracy, making output and volume a potential differentiator
- Burns brings the higher takedown rate while Malott edges him in submission attempts, setting up an intriguing grappling dynamic
