Burns battles Malott in Winnipeg main event

Gilbert Burns put his welterweight career back on track when he stepped into the cage against Mike Malott in the main event of UFC Fight Night on April 18 in Winnipeg, Canada, a card that streamed on Paramount+ and shone a spotlight on North American MMA talent.

Burns, known by his nickname Durinho, enters the bout ranked 13th in the welterweight division at 39 years old. The Brazilian, who trains out of Kill Cliff FC, carries a 22-10-0 professional record and brings a well-rounded game built on grappling. He lands 3.15 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and generates 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a persistent threat on the feet and on the mat alike.

Malott, nicknamed Proper, is a 34-year-old Canadian fighting out of Team Alpha Male. He holds a 14-2-1 record and offers a noticeable size advantage, standing six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach. His output is the sharpest element of his game, with 3.93 significant strikes landed per minute at 48 percent accuracy. He also averages 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes, suggesting he is more than a pure striker.

Why it matters

• A Burns win moves him back toward the top 10 in a welterweight division that has seen recent shakeups near the title picture.
• Malott, fighting in front of a home Canadian crowd, could use a headlining victory to cement himself as a genuine contender in the division.
• The stylistic matchup pits Burns's takedown-heavy, submission-minded approach against Malott's higher striking volume, creating clear contrasts in game-planning.
• Welterweight depth is on full display, with both fighters capable of forcing their way into ranked positions with a convincing performance.