Popular UFC Welterweight star Gilbert Burns is of the thought that winning is not a priority despite heading into his fight with Mike Malott on a losing streak at UFC Fight Night at the Canada Life Centre on Sunday morning.
Main card set to commence at 2:00am (CAT, GMT+2).
Burns (22-9-0), who is among the most travelled Welterweights in the UFC currently, will head into his next fight on the back of a TKO loss to Micheal Morales in a bout that took place at UFC Fight Night: Burns v Morales on 17 May, 2025.
Adding to his losing streak, the 39-year-old Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist suffered three consecutive defeats against Belal Muhammad, Jack Maddalena and Sean Brady, respectively.
Burns’ most recent victory came against Jorge Masvidal on 8 April 2023, where he secured a unanimous decision win at UFC287.
The Brazilian boasts numerous high-profile fights, having shared the Octagon with names such as Khamzat Chimaev, Stephen Thompson, and former Welterweight kings Kamaru Usman and Tyron Woodley.
Malott (13-2-1) on the other hand, comes into the fight on a three-bout winning streak, with his most recent victory being over Kevin Holland at UFC Fight Night: de Ridder vs Allen on 18 October, 2025.
The 34-year-old Canadian suffered only one defeat in the UFC, which came against Neil Magny via TKO at UFC297 on 20 January, 2024.
Speaking ahead of the fight, Burns controversially claimed that he doesn’t need to win against Malott given his career path, but will bring a wealth of experience into the fight.
“Right now, honestly, I don’t need to win,” Burns said.
“I came from nothing. Now what I have is more than enough for me. I don’t need it — but I want it. That’s my motivation."
That mindset may sound surprising for a fighter trying to snap a four-fight skid, but Burns insists his drive is still there.
“What I bring is experience and the will to win,” he added. “I’m going to take him down.”
The Main Card will also feature Kyler Phillips vs Charles Jourdain in the Bantamweight division, with the former looking to overcome consecutive losses against Rob Font and Vinicius Oliveira, while Jourdain secured back-to-back submission wins against Davey Grant and Victor Henry in his last two fights.
In the Women’s Flyweight division, top 10 contenders Jasmine Jasudavicius and Karine Silva will do battle in their attempts to earn a title shot in the near future. Jasudavicius will head into the fight sitting at seventh in her division, while Silva enters via ninth position.
UFC Fight Night Main Card
Gilbert Burns vs Mike Malott (Main event – Welterweight)
Kyler Phillips vs Charles Jourdain (Co-main – Bantamweight)
Mandel Nallo vs Jai Herbert (Lightweight)
Jasmine Jasudavicius vs Karine Silva (Women’s Flyweight)
Thiago Moises vs Gauge Young (Lightweight)
Dennis Buzukja vs Marcio Barbosa (Featherweight)