UFC Canada has confirmed that Mike Malott will headline UFC Winnipeg on April 18, 2026, facing Brazilian veteran Gilbert Burns in a five‑round welterweight main event at Canada Life Centre. The event, originally rumored for Ottawa, has been moved to Winnipeg, marking the UFC’s first return to Manitoba’s capital since December 2017.
Mike Malott Headlines UFC Winnipeg vs. Gilbert Burns in April Main Event
Mike Malott, a 34‑year‑old Canadian out of Burlington, Ontario, will be the first Canadian to headline a UFC card in nearly six years. He owns a 13–2 professional record and is currently riding a three‑fight win streak, most recently defeating Kevin Holland by unanimous decision in October 2025. The UFC’s official profile notes that he has stopped nine opponents in the first round, with four finishes by knockout and six by submission across his 15‑fight pro career.
Opposite him will be Gilbert Burns, a 39‑year‑old Brazilian and former title challenger, now 22–9. Burns last won a decision over Jorge Masvidal in 2023 and has since dropped four straight bouts, including losses to former champions Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena, plus title‑contenders Sean Brady and Michael Morales. He has been cited as a veteran looking to reset his position in the 170‑pound division, and this matchup is expected to be his first UFC appearance of 2026.
This will be the third UFC event in Winnipeg, following UFC 161 in 2013 and the December 2017 Fight Night headlined by Rafael dos Anjos and Robbie Lawler. The 2026 show is listed as UFC Fight Night 273, with Canada Life Centre, formerly Bell MTS Place, serving as the venue. Early reports indicate a handful of bouts tentatively attached to the card, including Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Karine Silva, John Castañeda vs. Mark Vologdin, Mitch Raposo vs. Allan Nascimento, and Dong Hun Choi vs. Andre Lima, though the UFC has not finalized the full lineup.
For Malott, the assignment is a clear step up in responsibility. In a tweet after the announcement, he said, “I’ve been waiting for this opportunity my whole career. Headlining in Canada, in front of our people, is everything I’ve worked for.” Those closest to him have described a training camp that’s focused less on the spectacle and more on closing the gap between a regional‑level finisher and a UFC‑caliber main‑event fighter.
Burns, in his own comments through team‑release channels, framed the fight as a reset. “I know what I’m walking into,” he said. “He’s young, he’s hungry, and he’s in his home country. But I’ve been counted out before and I’m still here. This is another chance to prove I belong at the top.” The implication is clear: for Malott, it is about cementing stardom; for Burns, it is about re‑entering contention.
April 18 in Winnipeg shapes up as one of the more meaningful Fight Night cards of the 2026 schedule.
