TLDR
- Gauge Young defeated Thiago Moises by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) at UFC Fight Night 273 in Winnipeg on April 18, 2026
- The lightweight bout opened the main card at Canada Life Centre and featured intense striking and grappling exchanges
- Moises’ grappling control sparked controversy and debate about the judges’ scorecards
- The main event saw Mike Malott defeat Gilbert Burns via third-round TKO, with Burns retiring after 14 years
- UFC 328 is scheduled for May 9 with Khamzat Chimaev defending his middleweight title against Sean Strickland
Sources: MMA Junkie | Bloody Elbow | ESPN MMA
Gauge Young earned a split decision victory over veteran Thiago Moises in a closely contested lightweight bout at UFC Fight Night 273 on April 18, 2026. The fight took place at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and opened the main card of the evening.
Two judges scored the fight 29-28 for Young, while one judge gave the same score to Moises. The narrow scorecards reflected the competitive nature of the three-round contest.
Both fighters engaged in intense striking exchanges throughout the fight. Young landed punches consistently across all three rounds, showing the resilience that ultimately earned him the victory.
Moises attempted to use his grappling experience to control portions of the fight. The Brazilian veteran’s ground game sparked debate among fans and analysts about the scoring.
GEE MONEY FOR THE DUB 💰
That's back-to-back wins for the lightweight prospect!
[ #UFCWinnipeg | @GeeMunzMMA | LIVE on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/X9SjjC1ylQ
— UFC (@ufc) April 19, 2026
Controversy Surrounds Judging
The split decision result generated discussion in the MMA community about which fighter deserved the win. Moises’ grappling control led some observers to question the judges’ scorecards.
Young improved his professional record with the hard-fought victory. The win marked an important step forward in his UFC lightweight career.
Moises, who entered the fight with more octagon experience, fell short despite his efforts. The loss came in front of a Canadian crowd that witnessed competitive action from both athletes.
Main Card Action in Winnipeg
The Young versus Moises bout served as the opening fight of the main card. Following their matchup, Jasmine Jusdavicius defeated Karine Silva via unanimous decision at flyweight.
Jai Herbert scored a TKO victory over Mandel Nallo in another lightweight contest. Charles Jourdan then earned a unanimous decision win over Kyler Phillips at bantamweight.
The main event featured Mike Malott against Gilbert Burns at welterweight. Malott won via third-round TKO and earned Performance of the Night honors.
Burns announced his retirement after the fight, ending a 14-year professional career. The veteran welterweight called it quits during the post-fight interview.
The preliminary card featured seven bouts before the main card began. John Yannis opened the event with a first-round knockout over Jamie Siraj at bantamweight.
John Castenada and Mark Vologdin fought to a majority draw in another bantamweight matchup. JJ Aldrich defeated Jamey-Lyn Horth via unanimous decision at flyweight.
Melissa Croden won a unanimous decision over Daria Zhelszniakova at bantamweight. Gokhan Saricam knocked out Tanner Boser in the second round of their heavyweight bout.
Robert Valentin submitted Julien Leblanc with a first-round rear choke at middleweight. Marcio Barbosa finished Dennis Buzukja via first-round TKO at featherweight.
UFC Fight Night 273 marked one of two remaining events before UFC 328 on May 9. The upcoming pay-per-view will feature Khamzat Chimaev defending the UFC Middleweight Championship against Sean Strickland.
