Joaquin Buckley and Mike Malott are squaring off in a pivotal welterweight main event this Saturday from Edmonton, and trust me, there’s some real drama cooking. These two welterweights, both looking to climb the ranks at 170 pounds, are set to collide in a fight that feels huge for both of their careers.
Buckley’s Redemption Arc Or More Heartbreak?
This fight is a key moment for Joaquin Buckley, no doubt about it. The guy was on a six-fight winning streak, absolutely tearing it up with knockout wins over Stephen Thompson and Colby Covington. Everyone thought he was ready to smash his way into the division’s elite, but then bam, back-to-back decision losses to Kamaru Usman and Sean Brady hit. That’s gotta sting, right? And get this, Buckley is *still* bothered by a 2025 title shot snub. He straight-up said he “had the tools to give Islam Makhachev real problems,” which tells you everything about his mindset coming into this one. You know he’s got something to prove, and he’s not just fighting Malott, he’s fighting that history.
Malott’s Hometown Momentum Is Serious
Then you’ve got Mike Malott, who’s practically adopted Canada as his personal fight arena. After starting his Octagon career with two fights in the United States, this will be his seventh consecutive fight in his home country. That’s wild hometown support, and he’s been putting on a show, too. Malott’s riding a four-fight winning streak, and his most recent win was a TKO over former title contender Gilbert Burns. That’s a huge name to add to the resume, and it shows this guy isn’t playing around. He’s got all the momentum heading into Rogers Place, and he’s not about to let Buckley mess with that.
The co-main event is also absolutely loaded, with even more immediate title implications than the main event, believe it or not. The women’s flyweight division is in chaos after Valentina Shevchenko vacated her title earlier this year due to injury. Natalia Silva defeated Wang Cong to become the new champ at UFC 332, and Erin Blanchfield is *not* happy about it. She was long labeled a future title challenger and believes she deserved the shot that went to Cong. A statement win against Jasmine Jasudavicius this weekend is paramount for Blanchfield, especially with Alexa Grasso’s resurgence and Shevchenko’s inevitable return adding even more pressure to the division.
So, how can you catch all this action? The UFC Fight Night is going down this Saturday, October 17. The main card kicks off at 8 p.m. ET, with prelims starting at 5 p.m. You can watch all of it exclusively on Paramount+. Seriously, if you’re a UFC fan, you gotta get on this. Paramount+ is the home for UFC, streaming all 13 numbered events and 30 UFC Fight Nights exclusively for seven years through 2033. It’s a game-changer for accessibility, and plans start as low as $8.99 per month. Don’t miss out on what promises to be a wild night of fights!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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