Malott retires Burns with TKO in UFC Winnipeg main event

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - Mike Malott earned a spot in the welterweight rankings with a TKO win over former title challenger Gilbert Burns in the UFC Fight Night main event Saturday at Canada Life Centre.

Malott dropped Burns twice on the feet and finished him with ground-and-pound, scoring the stoppage at the 2:08 mark of the third round.

(Available to view in U.S. only)

(Available to view in Canada only)

After the bout, Burns, 39, announced his retirement from MMA.

"I think that's it," Burns said in his postfight interview. "I've had a great career. I think that's it. I've fought the best guys in the world. No. 1 pound-for-pound. Former champions. I never said no to a fight. I think that's it."

After a competitive opening round, Malott used his advantage in speed and accuracy to outwork Burns on the feet in the second stanza. Malott took over in the third, wobbling Burns with heavy punches before forcing referee Herb Dean to intervene.

Malott, a 34-year-old from Burlington, Ontario, has now won four in a row, though this easily marked the biggest victory of his career. Malott was unranked and Burns was No. 11 in the 170-pound division going into Saturday's main event.

The win lifted Malott's Octagon record to 7-1. "Proper" hasn't tasted defeat since suffering a third-round TKO against Neil Magny at UFC 297 in January 2024 in Toronto.

Burns lost five straight fights to end his career. "Durinho" retires with a 22-10 professional record.