Ultimate Fighting Championship Winnipeg: Mike Malott Stops Burns, Sends Retiring Veteran Out in Style
ultimate fighting championship night in Winnipeg turned into a defining moment for Mike Malott on Saturday at Canada Life Centre. The Canadian welterweight stopped Gilbert Burns by technical knockout in the featured bout, in front of a loud home crowd and amid growing talk that Burns was done fighting. It was the biggest win of Malott’s mixed martial arts career, and it came after 2. 5 rounds of heavy exchanges.
Malott finishes late after a tight, physical battle
Malott, 34, was one of nine Canadian fighters on the 12-bout card. The win lifted him to 7-1 in the ultimate fighting championship and set him up to enter the welterweight contender rankings next week, since Burns entered the bout ranked No. 11.
The fight stayed close through the early rounds, with both men trading punches and kicks. Midway through the third round, Malott turned the momentum with a clubbing left hook and followed with a right hand that sent Burns down again, ending the contest to the delight of the fans in Winnipeg. Malott also extended his overall winning streak to four.
Emotional moment for Burns as retirement looms
Burns, 39, left the cage in tears after the loss. He had not fought since being knocked out by Michael Morales in one round 11 months earlier, and after this defeat he appeared to signal that his career may be over.
“I think that’s it, ” Burns said after the fight, laying his gloves in the cage as a symbol of retirement. The Brazilian veteran dropped to 7-7 since moving from lightweight to welterweight in 2019 and fell to five straight losses. He is a former title challenger at 170 pounds with wins over Jorge Masvidal, Neil Magny, Stephen Thompson, Demian Maia and former champion Tyron Woodley.
Malott showed respect afterward, calling Burns “a legend. ”
Canada Life Centre rises for a major homecoming
The main event carried added weight because Malott became the first Canadian fighter to headline a card in Canada since Rory MacDonald in 2016. He joined MacDonald and Georges St-Pierre as the only Canadian fighters in UFC history to main event a Canadian card.
Malott also said the setting meant a great deal to him, noting that the fans always show up for him and that the moment will stay with him for the rest of his life. The crowd later showed Burns respect too, chanting his name during his post-fight interview.
What the card means next
Beyond the headliner, the card delivered a mixed night for local fighters. Charles Jourdain beat Kyler Phillips by unanimous decision in the co-main event, while other Canadian debutants fell earlier on the lineup. Jasmine Jasudavicius returned to the win column with a unanimous decision over Karine Silva.
For Winnipeg, the event reinforced the city’s place on the ultimate fighting championship map. For Malott, it was a career-changing finish, and for Burns, it may have been the final chapter.
