Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott completed their final staredown before their main event clash at UFC Winnipeg. The face-off marked the conclusion of pre-fight promotional activities for the welterweight bout. Burns and Malott will headline the UFC Winnipeg card. The post includes reactions from fans choosing sides between the two fighters. No additional details about the staredown or any verbal exchanges were provided in the post.
Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott came face to face for the final time before their welterweight main event at UFC Winnipeg, completing the pre-fight promotional obligations that set the stage for Saturday's headliner.
Burns, known as "Durinho," enters the bout ranked 13th in the welterweight division and carries a professional record of 22 wins and 10 losses. The 39-year-old Brazilian trains out of Kill Cliff FC and has long been a fixture near the top of the 170-pound rankings. An orthodox striker standing five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach, Burns averages 3.15 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and adds a consistent grappling threat, posting 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career.
Malott, the Canadian crowd favorite fighting under the nickname "Proper," brings a record of 14-2-1 into the main event. The 34-year-old trains with Team Alpha Male and holds physical advantages over Burns, standing six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach. His striking output is notably high at 3.93 significant strikes per minute, also at 48 percent accuracy, and he supplements his stand-up with 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes, suggesting a well-rounded offensive game.
Why it matters
- Burns needs a strong performance to climb back toward the top 10 after a run of mixed results
- Malott is fighting in front of a home crowd in Winnipeg, adding significant atmosphere to an already competitive matchup
- The contrasting physical profiles — Burns the more experienced grappler, Malott the taller, higher-volume striker — create genuine stylistic tension
- A main event win for either fighter carries real divisional weight at 170 pounds
