Mike Malott delivered a spectacular finish in front of his home crowd, knocking Joaquin Buckley out with a devastating knee in the second round of their UFC Edmonton main event.
The UFC heads to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, this Saturday, October 17, for UFC Fight Night: Buckley vs. Malott, live from Rogers Place. The event is headlined by a high-stakes welterweight showdown between Joaquin Buckley and Mike Malott, with both fighters looking to strengthen their positions in the division.
Joaquin Buckley enters UFC Edmonton looking to halt a two-fight losing streak following defeats to Sean Brady and former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Before this difficult run, Buckley had established himself as one of the division’s most dangerous strikers, earning impressive victories over Stephen Thompson and Colby Covington. Buckley’s most recent outing ended in a unanimous decision defeat to Sean Brady at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026.
Unlike Buckley, Mike Malott enters the contest enjoying a strong run of form, having won his last four fights. The Canadian welterweight has recorded victories over Gilbert Burns, Kevin Holland, Charles Radtke and Trevin Giles, strengthening his position in the division and earning another opportunity to headline a UFC event on home soil.
His recent performances have demonstrated his ability to win through different methods, combining striking with the well-rounded skill set that has helped him establish himself in the UFC. Malott’s most recent victory came against former title challenger Gilbert Burns at UFC Winnipeg on April 18, 2026. Competing in his first UFC main event, Malott delivered a significant performance by stopping Burns via strikes at 2:08 of the third round.
Buckley comes out aggressively, looking to close the distance and unleash his explosive boxing. Malott stays composed, moves out of danger and responds with a powerful right hand as the two begin exchanging strikes in the centre of the Octagon. Both fighters find success in the striking exchanges. Buckley connects with a clean punch, but Malott answers with a short hook and begins mixing in head kicks. Buckley blocks the kicks, although Malott continues to test his defense with repeated attempts. Buckley pushes forward with a late flurry, forcing Malott to evade the incoming shots.
Buckley comes out firing again, throwing combinations as he looks to take control of the fight. The American closes the distance and clinches Malott against the fence, but Malott turns him around and begins landing knees from close range. Malott continues working in the clinch, forcing Buckley to deal with the knees while struggling to create space. The fighters eventually separate, and Buckley moves forward to throw another attack and that is when Malott finds the opening. As Buckley dips forward, Malott drives a brutal knee straight into his opponent’s head. The strike lands cleanly, sending Buckley’s mouthpiece flying as he collapses to the canvas. The referee immediately steps in to stop the contest, leaving the Canadian crowd celebrating a spectacular finish.
“Guys, I might be soft spoken, but I’m f*cking hard hitting,” Malott said. Buckley has now lost three straight fights, but suffered his first stoppage loss in nearly four years. After the win, Malott was asked who he wanted next, and he reiterated that it’s not his style to call people out. “I see a lot of dangerous guys in the top-10,” Malott said. … “Top-10 at the very least, maybe top-five.”
The victory extends Malott’s winning streak to five fights and strengthens his case for a step up against a higher-ranked welterweight. For Buckley, the knockout marks a difficult setback as he looks to get his campaign back on track.
