Ultimate Fighting Championship event in Canada.
Bad faces Joaquin Buckley at the main event of the year
UFC Edmonton Oct. 17 at Rogers Place. Buckley says he feels at home in Canada and has a bigger fan base than Malott. The Canadian disagrees, seeing his higher-ranked American opponent as an opportunity to climb the lightweight rankings.
Mike Malott disputes Joaquin Buckley’s Canadian fan base claim before UFC Edmonton
Malott noted that he has already headlined a UFC event in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he was staying Gilbert Burns in April. He believes Buckley wouldn’t headline a UFC card in Canada without him.
“He’s a great fighter, top 10 in the world for a reason, but as far as my name and exposure in Canada, I’ve main evented in Canada without him,” Malott told Full Send MMA. “Without me, he would never make it to the main event in Canada. He’s in the main event because I’m the main event for this fight. We just need someone in a position that I can take. He’s the guy I’m going to take.”
Malott (14-2-1) has won four straight since his only UFC loss
Neil Magny in 2024. Buckley (21-8) is on a losing streak Kamaru Usman and Sean Brady.
Mike Malott
claps back Joaquin Buckley who claimed no one knows who he is “Without me he would never be headlining in Canada. He’s in the main event because I’m the main event. We just needed a guy that I can take and he’s the place that I’m going to take” 😳 https://t.co/toRUfa4Ojm— FULL SEND MMA (@full_send_mma)
14 October 2026
