Mike Malott’s on the way up as a legitimate contender, and perhaps one day a future title challenger, in the UFC’s welterweight division.
In front of a native crowd in the main event of UFC Edmonton, one perfectly timed shot allowed Malott to knock out Joaquin Buckley.
Buckley came out on the front foot first, looking to take control and find his mark as he attempted to bring the fight to Malott. Malott, meanwhile, elected to feel things out from a distance, circling on the outside.
Buckley connected a few times during the first round with the right hook, making Malott feel his power. Buckley then looked to bring the power back out in round two before a grappling battle against the fence started for a time. Both men showed their speed and explosiveness, looking for one shot that would solidify control in their favor.
Malott did more than just that in round two; he found the shot that won it. Malott caught Buckley coming in and landed a knee, perfectly placed so that it landed on Buckley’s face, crumpling him to the canvas and sending the Canadian crowd into a frenzy.
Malott, guaranteed now a top-10 spot at 170, has now won five straight and is 8-1 in the UFC. He entered this fight off a victory over the retiring former welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns in the main event of UFC Winnipeg in April.
