Joaquin Buckley is looking to get back into the win column at UFC Edmonton, but he’s stepping into a lion’s den against Mike Malott, the promotion’s undisputed “Mr. Canada” who just keeps getting better. This card is UFC’s second visit north of the border this year, and Malott has been the center of attention every single time.
Mike Malott Is the Real Deal, Buckley Is Searching
Let’s be real, Malott is getting serious UFC backing, fighting exclusively in his home country since June 2023. That backing has paid off big, too. Remember his main-event finish of Gilbert Burns at UFC Winnipeg this past April? That was electric! The dude is putting it all together, leveling up to become one of the division’s most intriguing, even if still low-profile, contenders. His only stumble was that last-second loss to Neil Magny at UFC 297, which, let’s be honest, could have gone either way. Now he’s laser-focused on getting through Buckley.
Buckley, on the other hand? Rough stretch. He’s been humbled after a six-fight run against opponents that, frankly, looked good on a resume but were probably too far past their prime to matter much. Then came the decision loss to Kamaru Usman last June. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Sean Brady absolutely battered him in a non-competitive clash in May. What’s worse is “New Mansa” apparently learned nothing from those two fights; he failed to adjust! It’s going to be massively important that he’s made some serious changes for Malott, because Malott is one of the more well-rounded competitors at 170 pounds. Malott’s been honing his finishing ability on the feet, too. While dynamic attacks are usually Buckley’s thing, Malott has all the tools to deny him space and keep him guessing. Simply put, Malott has improved way more since his last loss than Buckley has during and after his recent skid. The pick here is Malott.
Blanchfield Is Ready for Her Title Shot
Don’t sleep on the co-main event either, because that’s where the real high stakes are. It’s a women’s flyweight clash pitting hometown favorite Jasmine Jasudavicius against top contender Erin Blanchfield. This fight has huge title implications! With new champion Natalia Silva looking to stay busy, the winner here is going to be perfectly positioned, especially with former champ Valentina Shevchenko’s next move still up in the air.
Blanchfield is on a mission. She wants her first UFC title shot, and she’s probably going to get it by adding another submission to her resume. Her grappling is her bread and butter, it’s no secret. She’s the queen grappler at flyweight and she’s still improving at just 27 years old. Her setback against Manon Fiorot in 2024 was a necessary reality check, and since then she’s bounced back with huge victories over former champion Rose Namajunas. This is a big one for Blanchfield, and the pick is her to get it done.
UFC Edmonton continues the October lull on the MMA calendar, earning a Crown grade of D. But hey, for the winners, it means big moves! Blanchfield could be staring down a title shot, and Malott keeps climbing that welterweight ladder. Make sure you’re tuned in to see if Buckley can somehow pull himself out of this hole. We’ll be watching to see how this all shakes out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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