The end came in Winnipeg, where Gilbert Burns was stopped by Mike Malott in the UFC Fight Night 273 main event on the night of April 19 and then announced his retirement from MMA. The finish came by TKO at 2:08 of the third round, closing the book on one of the welterweight division’s toughest runs of the past decade.
Burns leaves the sport at 39 after five straight losses and a final professional record of 22-10. While the skid made this result feel inevitable, Burns had remained a respected name at 170 pounds because of the level of opposition he consistently accepted. His career included fights with elite welterweights and a title challenge against Kamaru Usman, which kept him relevant long after his championship window had narrowed.
For Malott, this was more than a hometown headliner against a recognizable veteran. It was a pressure test in front of a Canadian crowd and a chance to prove he belongs in the next tier of the division. In that sense, the win matters even beyond Burns’ retirement: the UFC is always looking for marketable contenders in Canada, and a main-event stoppage over a former title challenger gives Malott momentum the promotion can build on.
Winnipeg also added to the moment. Canadian cards tend to produce loud, partisan crowds, and Malott fought with the kind of urgency expected from a local favorite in a showcase spot. Burns knew that going in, and after the fight he acknowledged both the preparation and the opponent.
Following the final horn, Burns removed his gloves, placed them in the center of the Octagon and addressed the crowd with emotion: “I worked so hard. I worked very hard for this fight. I knew Mike was fighting at home and would give everything he had. I prepared very well, did everything possible in camp, but I couldn’t show it in the cage. Special thanks to Mike Malott. I had a great career, I fought hard, I really wanted to win. I think that’s it. I fought the best in the world. I’m satisfied.”
Now the attention shifts in two directions: Malott’s push toward bigger welterweight opportunities, and Burns’ place in the conversation as one of the division’s most durable action fighters of his era.