Mike Malott is set to headline his first UFC main event when he faces Gilbert Burns at UFC Fight Night 273 in Winnipeg.
Malott will meet Burns in a five-round welterweight bout at the Canada Life Centre, marking his first time atop a UFC card. Burns enters the matchup on a four-fight losing streak.
Malott made it clear he is preparing for a peak version of the Brazilian. "I'm expecting the best version of him that we've seen yet," Malott said. "I wouldn't prepare for anything less. He's a high-level fighter, dangerous fighter. So, that was the focus throughout camp, is making sure I'm as prepared as possible, bringing in tough training partners to push me, and give me new looks, and get myself to a level, as well as I've been competing, is even a higher level."
The Canadian welterweight is not looking past his first headlining opportunity. "I'm not expecting anything after this fight; I'm focused on Saturday night, right?" Malott said. "Nobody else's name is on my mind right now. I'm focused on Saturday, and again, this is my first main event. Why would I look past this? This is something I've been dreaming of since I was a kid. I'm so blessed to get to do this, and not only is it a main event, it's in Canada, I get to go into a five-round, main event fight flying my Canadian flag and hearing fans cheering, so I'm focused on what's in front of me."
Colby Covington and Kevin Holland have mentioned Malott as a potential future opponent, and Malott called that "potentially a very realistic fight," but emphasized that his approach remains simple: "This is who you're fighting, and this is the date." "Yeah."
