Mike Malott, aka “Captain Canada,” is back on home soil in Edmonton this Saturday for his seventh straight fight in Canada, headlining for the second time in a row, and this time he’s gunning for Joaquin Buckley’s No. 10 welterweight ranking. This dude’s on a mission after knocking out and retiring longtime contender Gilbert Burns in his last main event back in April. Malott hasn’t fought outside of Canada in nearly four years, and he’s clearly found his groove as the North Star for the Great White North.
Captain Canada’s Home Invasion Continues
Malott isn’t just fighting at home; he’s becoming a legend doing it. He calls his crew the “Maple Leaf Militia” for a reason. After putting Burns out to pasture, Malott (14-2-1) is looking to keep his momentum rolling. He knows what he’s up against with Buckley, telling CBS Sports they’ve “definitely seen things” to exploit in all aspects of his opponent’s game. Malott isn’t about scripting fights; he’s all about preparation. He believes in going in there, feeling it out, and jamming with whatever arises. It’s worked for him every time, and that’s a scary thought for Buckley.
Make-or-Break For “New Mansa”
For Joaquin Buckley (21-8), who goes by “New Mansa,” this fight is make-or-break. He’s defending his No. 10 spot in the welterweight Top 10. Buckley has shown flashes of absolute brilliance, remember that iconic spinning back kick KO against Impa Kasanganay? He also looked like he was on a conquest after knocking out former title challengers Stephen Thompson and Colby Covington. But then dominant grappling losses to Kamaru Usman and Sean Brady absolutely slammed the brakes on his momentum. He told CBS Sports he thought he was “very, very, very prepared” for Brady, but Brady “did his job.” Buckley knows he can’t be concerned with the other guy; he just needs to stay “always on the offensive.” His confidence is still there, even if some outside belief might be slipping. He’s two years older than Malott, but Malott has become the veteran in Canada.
Women’s Flyweight Chaos: Blanchfield Demands Her Shot
And don’t even get me started on the co-main event, which actually has even more immediate title implications! The women’s flyweight division is a wild ride right now. Valentina Shevchenko vacated her title earlier this year due to injury, and Natalia Silva just beat Wang Cong at UFC 332 to become the new champ. That has to tick off Erin Blanchfield. She’s been “long labeled a future title challenger,” and she absolutely believes she deserved the title shot that went to Cong. A statement win against Jasmine Jasudavicius this weekend is absolutely crucial for her, especially with Alexa Grasso’s resurgence and Shevchenko’s inevitable return looming over the division. This whole card is shaping up to be Canada versus the world, and it’s going to be a show.
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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