Gilbert Burns is set to face Mike Malott in the main event of UFC Fight Night 273. The fight will take place in Winnipeg, with analysts providing insights on the matchup.
Key points
Gilbert Burns faces Mike Malott at UFC Fight Night 273
Fight location is Winnipeg, Canada
Analysts are breaking down the matchup
Event features multiple fights
Mentioned in this story
Winnipeg
Gilbert BurnsMike MalottUFC Fight Night 273
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in-depth to break down the biggest fights in the UFC. Today, he takes a closer look at UFC Fight Night 273's main event between Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott.
Gilbert Burns UFC Fight Night 273 preview
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 17: Gilbert Burns of Brazil prepares to face Michael Morales of Ecuador in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on May 17, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 17: Gilbert Burns of Brazil prepares to face Michael Morales of Ecuador in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on May 17, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Gilbert Burns vs. Mike Malott breakdown: Welterweight war
The main event in Winnipeg features a five-round welterweight showdown between Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott.
An accomplished grappler who immersed himself in all facets of martial arts, Burns has steadily become a formidable threat on the feet.
Another fighter under the care of coach Hooft, we have seen āDurinhoā build upon his pressuring sensibilities in the striking department. Whether heās working off of his jab or his opponentās, Burns always seems to have a heavy right hook chambered in the rear, as he typically looks to inch his way forward with offense thatās wired on a hair-trigger.
Burns, who is a solid leg kicker in his own right, has also shown signs of improving his defensive awareness regarding both checking and countering leg kicks thrown his way. That said, countering is always a potent two-way street with a fighter like Malott.
A real thinking manās fighter, thereās a lot to like about the tactics and offensive triggers that Malott employs.
Although I still wish Malott mixed more jabs into his repertoire, the Canadian does a good job of working off feints and staying active at kicking range. Primarily working off rear hip feints or fo Thai march variations, Malott will use initial threats to advance into stance-shifting combinations.
While most fighters kick off of punches, Malott likes to punch off of kicks. And when fighters come in hot, Malott appears to have accurate counter hooks and crosses that he has hardwired into his mechanics (which will likely serve him well in this spot).
Still, Iāll be curious to see if Malott shelves any of his dexterous kicks considering the potential level-changing threats coming his way.
Gilbert Burns vs. Mike Malott point of interest: Potential grappling threats
Oct 18, 2025; Vancouver, BC, CANADA; Kevin Holland (red gloves) fights Mike Malott (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images
Oct 18, 2025; Vancouver, BC, CANADA; Kevin Holland (red gloves) fights Mike Malott (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images
Given the on-paper edge that Burns holds over most fighters, no one should be surprised if the Brazilian looks to get this fight to the floor this weekend.
An IBJJF world champion both in and out of the gi, Burns has smartly sharpened his surrounding skill sets since stepping onto the MMA scene.
Working with wrestling influences and standouts like Greg Jones to catch wrestling coaches like Neil Melanson, Burns has been able to develop the groundwork to assist his game during this welterweight run. Integrating these crucial styles into his repertoire, there are now few to no positions that Burns is not comfortable or capable of working from.
Whether Burns is defending takedowns along the fence and striking off the breaks or hitting sweet trips and chaining his own takedowns, the Brazilian's wrestling improvements remain one of the things that quietly impresses me most. However, as underrated as that part of his game may be, taking down Malott is not an act without risks.
A former longtime coach and fighter at Team Alpha Male, Malott has appeared to be a positive product of osmosis as far as his gravitation toward the guillotine choke.
Moreover, Malott has shown a solid offensive grappling game, in general, since stepping into the octagon. From a wrestling perspective, Malott likes to work from over-unders in the clinch, where he shows solid trips and takedowns. And when Malott can get to topside, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt usually wastes little time in getting to work as far as advances and offense go.
Gilbert Burns vs. Mike Malott odds
The oddsmakers and the public favor the Canadian fighter, listing Malott -320 and Burns +235 via FanDuel.
Gilbert Burns vs. Mike Malott prediction, pick
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 17: Gilbert Burns of Brazil prepares to face Michael Morales of Ecuador in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on May 17, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 17: Gilbert Burns of Brazil prepares to face Michael Morales of Ecuador in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on May 17, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Although Iām not surprised to see Malott favored, the initial openers and betting spread above for this fight feels like the betting market was drunk driving with recency bias, once again, behind the steering wheel.
The line is steadily coming back down to earth as I type out this breakdown, but that doesnāt change the fact that Burns can still be in for a rough night. Nearly 40 years old and on a four-fight losing skid aside, weāve seen a prime Burns falter to solid counter strikers in the past.
Itās also worth mentioning that Burns has quietly never beaten a fighter in their athletic prime while competing up at welterweight.
But how prime is Malott, really? And how much better can we expect Malott to get at 34 years of age and 15 years of fighting as a professional?
Malott may technically be at the top of his game, but Iām still not entirely sure where the ceiling of that game is. More importantly, Iām still not sure Malott has a reliable enough process for me to trust him against the upper echelon of this division.
Aside from lacking a consistent jabbing presence to help his game, I noticed that Malott has a bad habit of both giving and giving back prime cage positions due to his propensity to play and stage offense along the outside. This habit has allowed Malottās opponents back into the fight in both victory and defeat, and has become much more apparent in fights where Malott is extended.
I also noticed that Malott hasnāt exactly fared well in extended grappling exchanges either given how difficult the half-guard wrestle-up game of Neil Magny was for him. Should Malott allow Burns ā even at this stage of his career ā to extend stanzas standing or on the floor, then āProper Mikeā could find himself standing in a proper pile this weekend.
Burns lacks the size parity and consistent flow of straight punches that have previously troubled Malott, but the Brazilian does well at countering strikes to get on the inside, as I suspect he understands the assignment here.
Itās not a popular prediction, but Iāll take a flier on Burns to bounce back in what could be considered in hindsight a ālevelsā fight. The official pick is for Burns to force a stoppage via strikes in the middle rounds.
Prediction: Burns inside the distance
Gilbert Burns vs. Mike Malott start time, how to watch
As the main event, Burns andĀ Malott are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 10:15 p.m. ET. The fightĀ streams on Paramount+.
