UFC Winnipeg went down last Saturday night (April 18, 2026) inside inside Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada leaving several fighters feeling the post-fight blues. Among them was Mandel Nallo, who suffered a first-round knockout at the hands of Jai Herbert in his UFC debut (see it again here).
And Dennis Buzukja, who was flat-lined by UFC newcomer, Marcio Barbosa, in just 80 seconds (relive it again here). But which fighter is suffering from the worst post-fight hangover, now a few days
removed from the show?
Gilbert Burns.
Coming into the event, Burns was riding a career high four-fight losing streak with his last win coming three years ago. While he did lose to some heavy hitters along the way, such as Jack Della Maddalena and Michael Morales, just to name a few, “Durinho’s” slump was as bad as it gets. His goal was to turn things around and get back in the win column to not only convince UFC officials to keep him, but to also prove to himself that he could still compete at the highest level.
Unfortunately, he was unable to do so.
Burns was never able to get much going throughout the fight. Malott won the striking exchanges throughout for as long as the fight lasted, and it all culminated in a third-round technical knockout (TKO), leaving the Brazilian bomber battered, bruised and retired.
Indeed, an emotional Burns put his gloves down on the canvas, and was joined by his family and then confirmed his retirement from the fight game after five straight losses on the post-fight show.
“I was crazy confident I was going to get the win,” Burns said (via 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. Maybe the age or whatever but 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. I don’t want to get just a paycheck. I try and I gave everything and if I cannot do it, then I cannot do it. It’s fine. We move on. I’ve still got a lot of challenges that I want to go through.”
Soon to be 40, perhaps walking away from the fight game is the best thing for the man they call “Durinho,” but I do foresee him returning to active competition or another, as there are plenty of avenues a fighter can go down that doesn’t involve getting punched or kicked in the face — though taking a tumble off a stage isn’t out of the ordinary.
While he didn’t exactly have a Hall of Fame career, Burns can walk away with his head held high knowing he gave it his all, and even gave current UFC Middleweight champion, Khamzat Chimaev, his toughest test to date.
What will you remember most about his lengthy combat career?
For complete UFC Winnipeg results, highlights and discussion click here.
