Burns and Malott complete final faceoff ahead of UFC Winnipeg main event

Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott completed their final faceoff on April 18, setting the stage for their welterweight main event at UFC Winnipeg, with the Brazilian veteran squaring off against Canada's hometown contender one last time before fight night.

Burns, known as "Durinho," enters the contest ranked 13th in the welterweight division and carries a 22-10 record built over a lengthy UFC career. The 39-year-old from Brazil trains out of Kill Cliff FC and brings a well-rounded game to the octagon. Standing five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach, Burns lands 3.15 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and adds consistent wrestling pressure, averaging 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Malott, nicknamed "Proper," holds a 14-2-1 record and fights out of Team Alpha Male. The 34-year-old Canadian stands six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach, giving him a size advantage over Burns. He produces the higher striking output of the two, landing 3.93 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, and also looks for submissions at a rate of 0.8 attempts per 15 minutes, suggesting a willingness to finish fights on the ground.

Why it matters

• Burns is a ranked welterweight veteran at number 13, meaning a Malott win could push the Canadian into divisional relevance
• Malott holds physical advantages in height and reach, while Burns counters with superior UFC experience and takedown volume
• Both fighters share identical striking accuracy, making the contrast in output and grappling tendencies a key stylistic storyline
• The main event slot in Winnipeg gives Malott a significant home-crowd advantage on Canadian soil