Gilbert Burns retires after UFC Winnipeg knockout loss

Gilbert Burns walked away from mixed martial arts on Saturday night after Mike Malott knocked him out in the third round of their UFC Winnipeg main event.

Burns, who entered the Canada Life Centre on a four-fight losing streak, went down to a right hand and follow-up punches at 2:08 of the final frame, per MMA Fighting. The 39-year-old Brazilian immediately left his gloves in the cage and announced his retirement during an emotional post-fight interview. “I work so hard, but I think that’s it,” Burns told the crowd. “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.”

Why Burns chose to retire now

Burns later explained that he went into the bout confident he would beat Malott and snap his skid. When that did not happen, he knew his time was up. “I was 1,000 percent confident that I was going to win,” Burns said on the UFC Winnipeg post-fight show, according to MMA Fighting. “I knew if something goes wrong, I don’t want to do this no more. I feel a little stuck. The fire is still there but I’m still a little stuck. I cannot let go. If I cannot win, if I cannot show everything that I have, I don’t want to do this.”

The loss capped a brutal run for Burns that included defeats to Belal Muhammad, Jack Della Maddalena, Michael Morales, and Sean Brady. That stretch came after a 2021 title shot against Kamaru Usman and a war with Khamzat Chimaev widely regarded as one of the best welterweight fights in recent memory. Burns stressed that he could have protected his ranking by turning down dangerous matchups but chose instead to face anyone the UFC offered.

Burns retires with a 22-10 record and plans to open his own school in south Florida while pursuing MMA management. He said the sport gave him financial stability and a chance to provide for his family. “I was able to make a living, make a career,” Burns said. “I was able to make money, to own my house. I take care of my beautiful kids and my wife. So I’m very happy.”

Malott improved to 14-2-1 and moved to 7-1 in the UFC with the knockout. The Canadian praised Burns during his post-fight interview, calling him “one of the greatest legends in the sport inside and outside the cage.” Sherdog reported that Malott employed strong takedown defense and combination punching throughout before landing the finishing sequence. Burns joins the cage alongside his family for a final moment before leaving competition behind.

Photo by Ameya Sawant 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