MALOTT BEAT BUCKLEY WITH STAPH — NOW HE WANTS TORONTO
“I'm ready for January.”
Mike Malott knocked out Joaquin Buckley at UFC Edmonton while dealing with a staph infection during fight week.
Malott shared the detail on The Ariel Helwani Show on October 19. Asked how he felt after the staph, he said he was fine.
A Messy Week, A Clean Finish
The week gave Malott more than one problem. A canceled flight also squeezed his media schedule before the fight.
None of it showed on Saturday. Malott won by second-round knockout. A kick turned into a knee that dropped Buckley and ended the main event.
He explained the shot after the fight. He meant to throw a head kick. He felt his shin land, saw Buckley fall, and followed up until the referee stepped in.
No Bad Blood With Buckley
Malott had nothing bad to say about Buckley all week.
That changed at the ceremonial weigh-in, where Buckley refused handshakes and stared him down. Malott did not take it personally.
He praised Buckley's humor and said they could be friends in different circumstances.
Toronto Is The Target
The win moved Malott to 8-1 in the UFC with five straight wins. He also finished Gilbert Burns earlier this year.
Now he wants UFC 336 on January 30, 2027, in Toronto. Helwani raised Michael Morales as an idea. Malott did not turn it into a callout.
"I'm ready for January."
Malott called himself the Canadian guy in the big fight on Canadian cards. He said the UFC can call with any opponent for January and he will be ready.
Can anyone in the top ten say no to a Canadian knockout run that now owns Edmonton and wants Toronto next?
