Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott completed their final face-off ahead of their welterweight main event clash at UFC Winnipeg. The staredown took place during the pre-fight ceremonial weigh-ins. Burns, a veteran Brazilian contender, will face Canadian Mike Malott in what is expected to be a significant welterweight bout. The event takes place in Winnipeg, Canada. Both fighters appeared composed during the face-off.
Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott stood across from each other at the ceremonial weigh-ins Friday, completing their final face-off before their welterweight main event at UFC Winnipeg.
Burns, nicknamed "Durinho," enters the bout ranked 13th in the welterweight division at 39 years old. The Brazilian veteran, who trains out of Kill Cliff FC, carries a professional record of 22-10 and brings considerable grappling credentials to the cage, averaging 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 0.5 submission attempts in the same span. He lands 3.15 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, making him a well-rounded threat in both phases of a fight.
Malott, a Canadian fighting out of Team Alpha Male, holds a record of 14-2-1 and will enjoy home-crowd support in Winnipeg. The 34-year-old, known as "Proper," stands six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach and is the busier striker of the two, landing 3.93 significant strikes per minute at the same 48 percent accuracy rate. He also averages 1.88 takedowns per 15 minutes and posts 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes, rounding out a dangerous all-around skill set.
Both men appeared composed during the staredown, giving little away ahead of the headlining clash.
Why it matters
- Burns is ranked 13th at welterweight, meaning a strong performance could shift his standing in a crowded division
- Malott fights in front of a home crowd in Winnipeg, adding stakes to what is already his biggest main-event opportunity
- Both fighters share identical striking accuracy and bring active grappling games, pointing toward a technically competitive matchup on the feet and on the mat
