Mike Malott Fires Back at Joaquin Buckley: 'He Would Never Headline in Canada Without Me'
Mike Malott says Joaquin Buckley would never headline in Canada without him as UFC Edmonton approaches this Saturday.
Mike Malott wants Joaquin Buckley to understand something before they meet in the main event at UFC Edmonton this Saturday: Buckley is not the attraction here.
Buckley recently suggested he has a bigger fan base in Canada than Malott, a claim that did not sit well with the Ontario native. Malott responded on Full Send MMA this week.
"He would never main event in Canada without me," Malott said. "He is in the main event because I'm the main event for this fight."
The welterweight clash headlines UFC Fight Night 291 at Rogers Place in Edmonton on October 17. Malott, who is 14-2-1, has won four straight fights since his only UFC loss to Neil Magny in 2024. His most recent outing was a stoppage of Gilbert Burns in the main event of a UFC card in Winnipeg back in April.
That win is part of his argument. He has already headlined in Canada without Buckley. The reverse does not apply.
"As far as my name and notoriety in Canada, I've main-evented in Canada without him," 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."
Buckley enters the fight at 21-8 and is coming off consecutive losses to Kamaru Usman and Sean Brady. Despite the recent skid, his ranking gives Malott the opportunity to jump into the welterweight top ten with a win.
Malott acknowledged Buckley's talent while making clear this is a business transaction for him.
"He's a great fighter, Top 10 in the world for a reason," Malott said. "We just needed a guy whose spot I can take and he's the spot I'm gonna take."
The card airs Saturday on ESPN+.
I love what Malott brings to these Canada cards. The guy has become must-see television for Canadian MMA fans, and he backs it up every time. Stopping Gilbert Burns in Winnipeg was a statement, and now he gets Buckley, who has lost two straight and is basically a stepping stone with a ranking attached to it. Buckley saying he is the bigger name in Canada is just silly. You do not headline in someone else's country and claim you are the draw.
Malott is the reason this card exists, period. If he finishes Buckley the way he finished Burns, we are talking about a legitimate welterweight contender who is about to crack the top ten. Edmonton is going to be rocking on Saturday.
