TLDR
- Mike Malott and Joaquin Buckley will fight in the main event of UFC Edmonton on October 17
- Malott disputes Buckley’s claim of having a strong Canadian fan base, saying Buckley wouldn’t headline without him
- Malott previously headlined in Winnipeg where he stopped Gilbert Burns in April
- Malott has won four straight fights while Buckley is coming off consecutive losses to Kamaru Usman and Sean Brady
- Malott views the higher-ranked Buckley as an opportunity to climb the welterweight rankings
Sources: middleeasy.com | sherdog.com
Mike Malott and Joaquin Buckley will fight in the main event of UFC Edmonton on October 17 at Rogers Place. The two welterweights are trading words about who fans really want to see.
Buckley recently said he feels at home in Canada and believes he has a larger fan base than Malott in the country. The Canadian fighter strongly disagrees with that claim.
Joaquin Buckley reflects on losses to Kamaru Usman & Sean Brady
“At least Colby tried to fight. Usman smothered me & Brady held on for dear life. In training I always get up because these guys are trying to advance position. If you’re just holding me, the ref should stand it up” pic.twitter.com/pzCG75rSk1
— FULL SEND MMA (@full_send_mma) October 13, 2026
Malott pointed out that he already headlined a UFC event in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he stopped Gilbert Burns in April. He says Buckley would not be able to headline a Canadian card on his own.
“He’s a great fighter, Top 10 in the world for a reason, but as far as my name and notoriety in Canada, I’ve main-evented in Canada without him,” Malott told Full Send MMA. “He would never main event in Canada without me.”
Malott Sees Buckley as Stepping Stone
The Canadian fighter views this matchup as his chance to climb the welterweight rankings. He believes he is the real draw for the Edmonton event.
“He is in the main event because I’m the main event for this fight,” Malott said. “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 enters the fight with a record of 14-2-1. He has won four straight fights since his only UFC loss to Neil Magny in 2024.
Buckley holds a 21-8 record but is coming off back-to-back losses. He lost to former champion Kamaru Usman and then to Sean Brady in his most recent fights.
Despite the losses, Buckley remains ranked in the top 10 of the welterweight division. This makes him a valuable opponent for Malott’s ranking ambitions.
Canadian Home Advantage in Question
Buckley’s comments about feeling at home in Canada and having strong fan support there sparked the exchange. The American fighter seemed confident about his reception in Edmonton.
Malott’s response makes clear he believes the Canadian fans will be there for him, not his opponent. His previous main event performance in Winnipeg gives him confidence in his drawing power.
The Winnipeg event where Malott stopped Gilbert Burns showed he could headline a card successfully. Burns was a more established name at the time of that fight.
Both fighters need this win for different reasons. Malott wants to break into the rankings and prove he belongs among the division’s elite.
Buckley needs to stop his losing streak and show he can still compete at the highest level. Two more losses could damage his standing in the division.
The UFC Edmonton event takes place on October 17. Malott and Buckley will settle their disagreement about fan support inside the octagon.
