Venue: Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Early prelims: ~3:00 p.m. CT (UFC Fight Pass).
Prelims: 5:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. CT (Paramount+).
Main card: 8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT (Paramount+).
The event features 13 bouts and marks the UFC’s return to Winnipeg. The main event is a welterweight clash between former title challenger Gilbert Burns (22-9) and Canadian contender Mike Malott (13-2-1). The full card includes several ranked or notable fighters across divisions, with the featherweight bout between Dennis Buzukja and Marcio Barbosa slotted on the main card (fight 8 of 13).
Injury Report: No injuries or withdrawals have been reported for the card as of April 14, 2026. The Buzukja vs. Barbosa matchup remains fully intact with no steam moves on the betting lines that would indicate health concerns.
Focused Fight Preview:
Dennis Buzukja vs. Marcio Barbosa (Featherweight, 3 x 5-minute rounds, Main Card)
Fighter Profiles & Styles
Dennis Buzukja (“The Great,” Staten Island, New York, USA): 12-5 overall (UFC record approximately 1-3). 5’9″, ~70.5″ reach. A well-rounded veteran with knockout power (5 KO/TKO wins) and solid grappling pedigree as a longtime teammate of Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili. He has battled hard in recent UFC losses but struggles against elite strikers and finishers.
Marcio Barbosa (“Ticoto,” Santana, Amapá, Brazil): 17-2 overall (UFC debut). 5’6″, ~70.5″ reach. A pure knockout artist (14 KO/TKO wins) coming off Dana White’s Contender Series. He has finished 9 of his last 11 wins in the first round and has only gone the distance once in 19 pro fights. Explosive power, aggressive forward pressure, and elite finishing rate.
Recent Form
Buzukja enters on a 1-3 UFC skid with the longest layoff of his career (since August 24, 2024):
Aug 24, 2024 – Split decision loss vs. Francis Marshall (UFC Fight Night).
Mar 30, 2024 – KO/TKO win (R3, 0:22) vs. Connor Matthews.
Nov 11, 2023 – KO/TKO loss (R1, 0:49) vs. Jamall Emmers (UFC 295).
Aug 5, 2023 – Unanimous decision loss vs. Sean Woodson.
He shows resilience and occasional highlight-reel finishes but has been stopped or out-struck in recent high-level matchups.
Barbosa is on a dominant 4-fight first-round stoppage streak leading into his UFC debut:
Aug 26, 2025 – KO/TKO win (R1, 4:14) vs. Damon Wilson (DWCS Season 9).
Nov 22, 2024 – KO/TKO win (R1) vs. Felipe Oliveira (LFA).
Nov 3, 2023 – KO/TKO win (R1) vs. Gian Sarturi (LFA).
Jul 7, 2023 – KO/TKO win (R1) vs. Wellington Prado (LFA).
His only two career losses came earlier; since then he has been a finisher almost exclusively.
Fight History & Key Matchup Notes
Buzukja has 12 pro wins (5 KO/TKO, 1 sub, 6 decisions) but his UFC tenure has been rocky against length and power. Barbosa, at 27 years old, is younger and on a clear upward trajectory with a 9-2 record in opening-round finishes over his recent stretch. This is a classic “experience vs. explosive debutant” clash. Buzukja’s grappling could theoretically slow Barbosa down, but Barbosa’s finishing rate and first-round dominance make him extremely dangerous early. Expect fireworks—Barbosa rarely lets fights go deep.
FIGHT ODDS
Dennis Buzukja + 320
Marcio Barbosa – 400
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, April 17, 2026
