Sean Shelby's Shoes: What's next for Mike Malott after UFC Winnipeg win?
· Yahoo Sports
Mike Malott held serve as the favorite in his first main event opportunity at UFC Fight Night 273 and got his big moment on home soil against Gilbert Burns.
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Malott (14-2-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) had all the pressure going into Saturday's welterweight headliner with former title challenger Burns (22-10 MMA, 15-10 UFC) at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He came through, engaging in a purely standup affair that ended in a third-round TKO swarm.
It was an efficient and effective effort from "Proper," who has now won four straight fights since his lone octagon blemish against Neil Magny at UFC 297 in January 2024. He is showing signs of being a top 10 fighter in the division, but it's hard to read fully into this win.
With Burns taking off his gloves and announcing his retirement just moments after the fight ended, it casts at least a sliver of caution around using this as a barometer for Malott's ceiling. That's the case for anyone moving up a division, though, and Malott appears intent on keeping his focus and continuing to prove himself more each time.
The names above Malott now are all serious tests, but the UFC might have him positioned to fight another aging contender. Former title challenger Colby Covington (17-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) told MMA Junkie in March that UFC executive Hunter Campbell was keeping him sidelined to face the winner of Malott vs. Burns. It's a logical booking, and would be compelling from both a stylistic and personality perspective.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Winnipeg matchmaker: Who's next for Mike Malott after win?