Mike Malott: Joaquin Buckley Wouldn't Headline in Canada Without Me
Mike Malott believes he is the primary attraction for his UFC Edmonton main event clash against Joaquin Buckley on Oct. 17.
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Welterweight contender Mike Malott believes he is the driving force behind his upcoming headlining bout at UFC Edmonton. Malott is scheduled to face Joaquin Buckley in the main event on Oct. 17 at Rogers Place, and the Canadian fighter is pushing back against Buckley's claims of having a larger local fan base.
While Buckley recently stated that he feels at home in Canada and commands more fan support than his opponent, Malott sees the situation differently. Speaking to Full Send MMA, Malott noted that his top-10 ranked opponent is merely stepping into a spotlight created by the Canadian faithful, pointing out that he previously headlined in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he stopped Gilbert Burns in April.
"He would never main event in Canada without me," Malott told Full Send MMA. "He is in the main event because I’m the main event for this fight. We just need somebody who is in a position that I can take. He is the guy whose spot I’m going to take."
Malott (14-2-1) enters the matchup on a four-fight winning streak since suffering his lone UFC loss to Neil Magny in 2024. Buckley (21-8) looks to rebound after dropping consecutive bouts to former champion Kamaru Usman and Sean Brady.
Sources
- Sherdog — Mike Malott says Joaquin Buckley wouldn't headline in Canada without him
- Sherdog — Mike Malott was told he'd never make the UFC; now he's headlining
This article was written by VILLAND PICK based on the reports listed above. Original articles are not reproduced.