Gilbert Burns retires after UFC Winnipeg knockout loss

Gilbert Burns retired from MMA on Saturday night after Mike Malott stopped him in the third round of their UFC Winnipeg main event at Canada Life Centre.

The 38-year-old welterweight laid his gloves down in the cage moments after the finish, capping a career that spanned 32 professional fights and included a 2021 title shot against Kamaru Usman. Burns entered the bout on a four-fight skid, his worst run since joining the UFC, and acknowledged afterward that he knew retirement was on the table if things went wrong.

Burns was confident before the knockout — and content after

“I was crazy confident I was going to get the win,” Burns said on the UFC Winnipeg post-fight show, as reported by MMA Fighting. “I was 1,000 percent confident that I was going to win. I knew if something goes wrong, I don’t want to do this no more. Not because of anyone. Because I’m not showing my 100 percent.”

Malott controlled the first two rounds with his jab and size advantage before landing a combination that dropped Burns midway through the third. The Canadian unloaded with punches until referee Herb Dean waved it off at 2:08, per Sherdog. The win improved Malott to 14-2-1 and marked his fourth consecutive victory since a loss to Neil Magny last year.

Burns told the Winnipeg crowd he was satisfied with a career that saw him face the best welterweights in the world, including his memorable 2022 war with Khamzat Chimaev. “I fought the best guys in the world, No. 1 pound-for-pound, a lot of guys former champions, I never said no to a fight,” he said during his retirement speech. The Brazilian finishes 22-10 overall and plans to shift into MMA management and open a school in south Florida, where he will teach the lessons he learned across 17 years in combat sports.

Malott faces an uncertain next step in the welterweight rankings after dispatching a fighter who once sat at No. 2 in the division. Burns’ slot is now vacant.

Photo by Derrick Treadwell on Unsplash

Original reporting:

• mmafighting.com — Gilbert Burns explains decision to retire after UFC Winnipeg: ‘If I cannot win … I don’t want to do this’ | MMA Fighting
• mmafighting.com — UFC Winnipeg live blog: Gilbert Burns vs. Mike Malott | MMA Fighting
• sherdog.com — Mike Malott steps up ascent, storms past Gilbert Burns in UFC Winnipeg headliner