Fans not familiar with the Canadian fight scene may only recognize Mike Malott, in the main event against Gilbert Burns, Jasmine Jasudavicius, and Charles Jourdain, who gets co-headlining duties on Saturday. Yet with the likes of Mandel Nallo (a former Bellator star) and Jamie Siraj making their debuts, there was lots to get excited for.

Malott gets the star turn here in Winnipeg, however. With former title challenger Burns still holding the #11 spot in the welterweight division, it was a chance not only for Malott to return to the rankings, but to cement himself in them. A three fight win streak has carried Malott here, including a victory over Kevin Holland last time out.

Weigh-ins for UFC Winnipeg take place Friday morning, getting underway at 10AM ET, 7AM PT. Full results can be found below.

UFC Winnipeg: Burns vs. Malott Weigh-In Results

Main card

Welterweight: Gilbert Burns vs. Mike Malott
Bantamweight: Kyler Phillips vs. Charles Jourdain
Lightweight: Mandel Nallo vs. Jai Herbert
Women’s Flyweight: Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Karine Silva
Lightweight: Thiago Moisés vs. Gauge Young
Featherweight: Dennis Buzukja vs. Márcio Barbosa

Preliminary card

Middleweight: Julien Leblanc vs. Robert Valentin
Heavyweight: Tanner Boser vs. Gökhan Saricam
Women’s Bantamweight: Melissa Croden vs. Darya Zheleznyakova
Women’s Flyweight: JJ Aldrich vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth
Bantamweight: John Castañeda vs. Mark Vologdin
Bantamweight: Jamie Siraj vs. John Yannis

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Mitch Raposo had been set to face Allan Nascimento at the event this Saturday, April 18 at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in flyweight action.

However, illness (reported by MMA Junkie’s Nolan King to be a virus contracted by Raposo) has forced the bout off the card. It’s now being targeted for a Fight Night event at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas on June 20.

UFC officials released a brief statement confirming the development on Thursday.

“Due to illness with Mitch Raposo, his flyweight bout with Allan Nascimento has been moved to UFC FIGHT NIGHT on Saturday, June 20 at Meta APEX in Las Vegas.”

Raposo (10-3) was looking to build off his first victory under the UFC banner, against Azat Maksum last October. Nascimento (22-6) has won four straight since dropping his UFC debut in 2021, but has struggled with injuries and bouts falling through.

This Saturday’s UFC Winnipeg now moves forward with 12 fights and is headlined by Gilbert Burns vs. Mike Malott at welterweight. The following match-ups have been announced for the event:

• Gilbert Burns vs. Mike Malott
• Kyler Phillips vs. Charles Jourdain
• Mandel Nallo vs. Jai Herbert
• Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Karine Silva
• Thiago Moisés vs. Gauge Young
• Dennis Buzukja vs. Márcio Barbosa
• Julien Leblanc vs. Robert Valentin
• Tanner Boser vs. Gökhan Saricam
• Melissa Croden vs. Darya Zheleznyakova
• JJ Aldrich vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth
• John Castañeda vs. Mark Vologdin
• Jamie Siraj vs. John Yannis

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“I think she’s a tough fighter. We do see some opportunities to explore, some holes in her game, and we’ve worked together to get prepared exactly explore those holes,” Silva told reporters through a translator on Wednesday.

“To come out with the win on Saturday.”

Silva (19-6) enters the bout following a decision loss to Maycee Barber at UFC 323. She has taken the setback in stride, viewing it as a learning experience she can carry into her matchup with Jasudavicius and future bouts.

“Losses always teach you a lesson so that was an opportunity for me to kind of look inside myself and see who Karine really is. I wanted to understand myself, and see all the things that I’ve been able to do in training that I can do in a fight as well,” she said.

“Now is my moment and I think that everything that we’ve trained can be applied to this fight.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Karine Silva above. She faces Jasmine Jasudavicius at UFC Winnipeg on Saturday night.

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“Dude, it better have sunk in, I’m here ready to fight in a few days,” Boser told reporters on Wednesday.

“Yeah it’s sunk in. I got dialed in immediately. It probably took a day or two where it was still very surreal. Quite an incredulous feeling, but yeah it’s sunk in and I’m ready to rock and roll.”

Boser (22-10-1) was not sure he’d be back in the UFC after the promotion declined to give him a new deal following his victory over Aleksa Camur in 2023. He definitely wanted to return, but there was a time where he wasn’t sure it’d actually happen.

“It didn’t look good at the moment, but I never fully gave up hope on it or anything. I had a fight last year, went well, went my way, beat a UFC vet, so that kind of thing always helps,” he said.

“I was planning on fighting I just had several things that fell through. So I wasn’t active very much in the last three years, but I was planning to have fights that just didn’t quite happen. I’m just happy to be back.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Tanner Boser above. He faces Gokhan Saricam at UFC Winnipeg on Saturday night.

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Alongside Kelly vs. Wilson on Thursday’s card, a handful of notable names including Rhys McKee in the co-main event, and Tyson Pedro. Pedro, fighting Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov, competes for the first time since March of 2024, at the end of his UFC stint, after which he retired. That retirement ends Thursday.

Where to Watch PFL Belfast

PFL Belfast takes place on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The card airs live on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes (prelims are available via the ESPN App). Full results from the event can be found below, starting at 3PM ET, 12PM PT.

PFL Belfast: Kelly vs. Wilson Results

Main Card

Lightweight: Jay Jay Wilson def. Darragh Kelly by knockout, Round 1, 0:37
176lb Catchweight: Rhys McKee def. Alex Lohore def. Tyson Pedro by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Light Heavyweight: Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov def. Tyson Pedro by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Preliminary Card

Welterweight: Eoin Sheridan def. Chris Mixan by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Featherweight: Caolan Loughran def. Alan Philpott by submission (face crank), Round 1, 1:11
Welterweight: Omran Chaaban def. Chequina Noso Pedro by TKO, Round 2, 4:16
Bantamweight: Dean Garnett def. Ciaran Clarke by KO, Round 1, 1:52
166lb Catchweight: Pedro Carvalho def. Sergio Cossio by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
176lb Catchweight: David Martinez def. Giannis Bachar by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 0:53
Bantamweight: Sean Gauci def. Liam Gittins by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Bantamweight: Eoghan Masoliver def. Shane Mullen by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 1:55
Women’s flyweight: Chelsea Hackett def. Andrea Vazquez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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“Not particular reason. I’ve been ready to fight for a while now. Just a couple of things in the background that didn’t happen,” Herbert told reporters on Wednesday.

“I’m here now. That’s all that matters. Going to go out there, get the victory, and bigger fights to come this year.”

Herbert (13-6-1) understands the challenge ahead in facing a dangerous newcomer looking to make an immediate impact on the roster. The veteran has done his homework on Nallo, pointing to his striking ability and recent success as clear indicators of the threat he brings. Still, Herbert made it clear his focus remains on delivering a decisive performance in his return to action.

“He’s a good guy, you know, it’s his debut. He had a good win on the Contender Series. He’s had a few good wins before that. He looks like to be more of a striker, but I’m going to go out there and get the stoppage, get the victory man. That’s all I’ve come here for,” he said.

“Come here not to mess about, man.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Jai Herbert above. He faces Mandel Nallo at UFC Winnipeg on Saturday night.

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“I’m gonna f*ck this dude up,” said Phillips (12-4) during this week’s media day. “He’s a good opponent, but I know his antics, he likes to talk and say things, but I’m going to beat his ass.”

While Phillips is confident, he seems to find the match-up as tantalizing as the rest of the fight world. Jourdain is 2-0 since arriving at bantamweight with two victories by guillotine and two Performance of the Night bonuses. Phillips himself, well, he’s known as “The Matrix” for a reason, recent struggles not withstanding.

“It’s a sick-ass match-up if you think of it. Dude, this guy, the way he fights is pretty exciting. The way I fight— like, I ain’t trying to convince myself saying things like that. But dude, this is a cool one.”

Phillips went on to add that “the way this guy has come up in the UFC from a young age and the way I’ve come up from a young age, and we’re now in our prime. To see that and to see his recent success, and he’s come down from 45 and where I’m at— you’re just going to see my skyrocket.”

Jourdain has said he sees the fight against Phillips as a chance to break into the top 15. Phillips has been there before, but isn’t worried about rankings at the moment.

“Numbers are like statistics, it’s just numbers. At the end of the day the cage shuts and I’m going to go in there to fight another dude. So I’m not really too worried about numbers or this and that. I’m just as much wanting to take him out as he’s wanting to get that number or whatever he’s looking for.”

Watch the full UFC Winnipeg media day appearance by Kyler Phillips above.

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Now, six months later — seemingly an eternity given the Canadian’s usual busy schedule — Jasudavicius (14-4) returns at UFC Winnipeg, where she takes on Karine Silva.

Jasudavicius explained the lessons learned from the Fiorot loss during this week’s UFC Winnipeg media day. “Be smarter with my choices. I understand that we got the small gloves on, and just because I think it doesn’t hurt doesn’t mean it’s not hurting me,” she outlined. “So I’ve discovered that you can’t just move forward and be tough. This is a thinking sport, and I have to give the sport the respect that it’s due.”

“Marital arts is kind of the best thing in the world,” Jasudavicius continued. “Life is martial arts and martial arts is life. What’s happening in the octagon is kind of a reflection of your life and vice versa.”

“I think in life and in martial arts I would push and I would try so hard, and I would do all these things that I thought were the right thing to do, just to discover that maybe once in a while you’ve got to take a step back to take two steps forward. And I think that kind of has been translating for me.”

Admittedly, Jasudavicius did try to push through the loss to Fiorot, by getting back in the cage sooner. She immediately called her manager to ask for another fight. In the long run, the layoff worked out.

“This was a longer layoff than I wanted it to be. I was begging to get back in there. But it’s a blessing in disguise. Because It’s given me the time to actually decompress and figure out what the issues were, and discover how to guide the rest of my career and beat up the rest of these broads.”

Watch the full UFC Winnipeg media day appearance by Jasmine Jasudavicius above.

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With opponent Kyler Phillips previously holding the #14 spot, “a victory over him will solidify my place as a top 15 fighter,” Jourdain (17-8-1) said during Wednesday’s UFC Winnipeg media day. “So co-main event is beautiful, I’m very happy, I think the Canadian fans are very happy with that, but most importantly for me is my shot at the top 15.”

With two straight wins since arriving at 135lbs, former featherweight (and lightweight) Jourdain has looked remarkedly improved. Part of that was the sacrifice, as he put it, of “letting my old self, the weak Charles, out of the way.”

Jourdain believes he was essentially coasting on skill alone, leading to the Quebec native trading wins and losses back and forth. “You cannot order pizza two days before leaving for Fight Week and you’re fighting Jean Silva, who rehydrates 25 pounds, something like that,” admitted Jourdain. “The sacrifice was letting go of my weak part.”

The Canadian is certain that a win this Saturday will land him in the top 15 at bantamweight. “I finished Victor Henry, who had never been finished. Destroyed Davey Grant like nobody has ever done to him. And now destroying Kyler Phillips, who’s never been finished — I’ll be the first one to put a decisive victory on him. Because you know, winning by decision is something, but me, when you need to expect fire at bantamweight, I truly believe I can finish all these guys.”

Jourdain says he did “a lot of visualization” ahead of UFC Winnipeg, and sees a couple of possibilities: a changed Kyler Phillips, or one who is a little more desperate coming off two losses.

“Sometimes fighters have a tendency to reinvent themselves. I’ve done it myself. Reinvent yourself. But if he reinvents himself, he’s not going to be peak Kyler. Or if he fights like Kyler fights, we’ve prepared a toolbox ready to destroy and counter anything he’s bringing. So whatever version Kyler will bring, we’ll be able to destroy.”

Watch the full UFC Winnipeg media day appearance by Charles Jourdain above.

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Burns (22-9) is a 12-year veteran of the UFC, and a win is key to his career with the promotion moving forward. That might explain some of the time off, though Burns had planned on being back in action a little sooner.

“Honestly we thought we were going to come back a little earlier, I thought it was going to be February. I think that was the plan, to have a numbered event here in Canada, but then the UFC changed the plan,” Burns stated during the UFC Winnipeg media day this week.

Burns was then looking at the numbered cards in March (with the BMF title fight between Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway) and April, before the UFC settled on keeping the fight in Canada. “Then they had the dates for UFC Ottawa first, and then Winnipeg, and then the name was Mike Malott.”

The UFC did originally have Ottawa penciled in for its first Canadian date of 2026, with several fighters being told that was where they’d been fighting. When the event was shifted to Winnipeg, Burns vs. Malott was finally announced, eleven months on from Gilbert Burns’ last fight.

“So the fight with Morales was in May, around August. We had a meeting, we sat down with the team.” That’s when Burns started making plans for his return, looking “to close the little holes, to learn by my mistakes.”

Malott has shown strong grappling in his UFC run to date, and that’s something Burns has always exceled at. It’s also an area he may want to test Malott in.

“I like it, because he’s the type of guy, when he doesn’t have a fight he likes to challenge himself in grappling, and I respect it and I like that very much. And I want to try, I want to see, let’s see how good you are in grappling.” Singling out Malott’s guillotine and takedowns as strengths for the Canadian, Burns added “he’s good. He’s well-rounded. I’m here to test that.”

Watch the full UFC Winnipeg media day appearance by Gilbert Burns above.

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