UFC Edmonton is the promotion’s second visit to Canada this year, and it features yet another welterweight show.
The UFC has shown that the north of the border has recently been around the rise of contender Mike Malott, who fought alone in his country with his third promotion against Adam Fugitt in June 2023. After his main event finish of Gilbert Burns at UFC Winnipeg this past April, Malott is now striving to get through Joaquin Buckley, who hopes to climb back into the column after back-to-back losses.
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The co-main event is the Muscat women’s stakes event, supporting another country favorite, Aenean Jasudavicius, against top contender Erin Blanchfield. While new champion Natalia Silva should stay busy watching, the winner will be well-placed as the division’s next move against former champion Valentina Shevchenko.
Overall, UFC Edmonton continues to sleep in October on this year’s MMA calendar.
UFC Edmonton’s lineup Crown ranks: D
Mike Malott puts it all together.
(Chris Unger via Getty Images)
170 pounds: Joaquin Buckley (+110) Mike Malott (-135) vs.
Malott really is the UFC’s new Mr. Canada, isn’t he?
It’s pretty amazing to see Malott home-solo so many times. If there’s one sign the UFC is making a comeback in the market, it’s this. And that paid off once again: Malott’s infamous last-second loss to Neil Magny at UFC 297. Since then, Malott has matched that, becoming one of the party’s more ambitious, albeit still relatively low-profile, contenders.
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Buckley, on the other hand, was humbled and brought back to Earth after six battles against certain adversaries, whose names are well repeated, but perhaps far beyond the first of them as they first appeared.
That ended when Kamaru Usman decided last June. Then Sean Brady continued Buckley’s downward spiral, shaking him from pillar to post in May’s non-competitive encounter. “New Mansa” seems to have learned nothing and not settled between these two fights, and it will be important that he has changed for Malott.
Malott is one of the more rounded competitors at 170 pounds and has begun to adapt his ability to perform on his feet. Dynamic attacks are usually a point in Buckley’s favor, but Malott has the tools to deny Buckley space and keep him guessing.
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Simply put, Malott has improved much more since his last loss than Buckley has during the day and after his recent stretch of fights.
Collect: Malott
125 pounds: Erin Blanchfield (-350) vs.
A few years back, a prediction about the new era of flyweight. That prediction consisted of a title trilogy between Blanchfield and the new champion Silva.
Suddenly we’re closer than ever to that, I admit I’m patting myself on the back.
Shevchenko is obviously still alive in this 125-pound enigma, but Blanchfield aims to finally get his first UFC title shot by adding another submission to his submission against Jasudavicius.
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It’s Blanchfield’s bread and butter, and it’s never a secret. Queen is a flying grappler, and she’s still getting better at 27 years old. Her setback against Manon Fiorot in 2024 was far from the end of the world; Yes, check out the facts that led her to victories over former champion Rose Namajunas and Tracy Cortez.
But Jasudavicius is fighting against the clock at the age of 37. She bounced back from her quick stoppage loss to Fiorot last year with a solid performance against Karine Silva in April — the same night she fought Malott.
While both fighters certainly flashed on the mats, Jasudavicius has the clear edge and is aiming well for the division. Expect him to succeed and contain space if possible, only for Blanchfield to destroy the game by constantly fighting. “Cold-Blooded” presence will soon be too overwhelming.
Collect: Blanchfield
155 pounds: Kyle Nelson (+310) Cristian Perez (-400) vs.
Nothing screams “Canadian goalie” more than 35-year-old, eight-year UFC veteran Kyle Nelson welcoming Contender Series winner to the Octagon.
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Nelson has certainly been a good lightweight since he moved up in weight a year ago. However, it’s still 1-1, which isn’t surprising after getting on the board with Terrance McKinney. (Also known as another McKinney fight).
After beginning his career as an avid naked choker, Christian Perez has become a lethal striker, dropping five of his past seven opponents. He’s an active, high-octane fighter who pushes the pace in a way that compresses Nelson well, especially with the Canadian’s susceptible chin.
It’s a good test of Perez’s UFC debut, but one that sets him up to excel.
Collect: Perez
Kyle Daukaus has victory on his mind after his loss at the White House.
(Chris Unger via Getty Images)
185 pounds: Marc-André Barriault (+170) vs. Kyle Daukaus (-210)
This fight just bothers me a little bit, to be honest.
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Marc-André Barriault has a nickname (“Powerbar”) that consistently makes me chuckle, but that’s only consistent with the French-Canadian thing. He looks at great victories, but they are few and far between; He went 1-5 in six. Barriault is that typical tough guy who remains competitive enough to maintain a spot on the roster without winning. That sounds harsh, but the facts speak for themselves.
It’s a good rebound for Kyle Daukaus, who was defeated by top fighter Bo Nickal at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House. There’s no shame in that loss, and Daukaus can replicate that style and impose Nickal’s game on Barriault here. As long as Daukaus avoids some of Barriault’s bombs, he moves to submission or dare, working Barriault against the cage and on the floor.
Collect: Daukaus
135 pounds: Louis Jourdain (-190) vs.
If you don’t know that this is Timothy Cuamba’s sixth UFC fight, don’t fear, you’re certainly not alone.
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Cuamba is a big time hitter, he is happy to put on a paper cut offense until he finishes his stuff. He likes to lean in with a solid punch, but he can throw flying knees out of nowhere, like he did against Roberto Romero.
Louis Jourdain also dabbled in the sweetest science, playing a short spell. The younger brother of Charles Jourdain delivers a dirty little body whenever he gets the chance and loves to dance in the lap, this makes the pair of two magnets that ended badly.
Both have clear weaknesses in the submission and throwing defenses, but don’t expect the fight to go there. Jourdain’s recent boxing experience and ability to perform make him the one to bring back here.
Collect: Jourdain
155 pounds: Mandel Nallo (-275) vs.
OK, this fight almost feels average at this point.
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Nate Landwehr, aptly nicknamed “The Train,” became the man to hit the sack in a three-fight losing skid. You cannot say that the Landwehr was ever defended by a sword. 38 But now and truly the years of loss bear — now they move up in weight
To make matters worse, the UFC would welcome Landwehr with the dynamo Mandel Nallo, or get it. Sure, Nallo is less than a year younger than Landwehr, but he still has the advantage of youth in his fighting years. Nallo’s UFC debut against Jai Herbert reminded us that he can get caught very well. This is just his style. But this is a fight where he will have such advantages in speed, power and size that it doesn’t matter.
They gather: Nallo
Did you miss Katlyn Cerminara or WHAT?!
(Chris Unger via Getty Images)
Previous Notes
Remember Katlyn Cerminara? Formerly Katlyn Chookagian, the one-time flyweight title challenger has been out of contention since 2024, and it appears she has retired as she enters maternity leave. But the 37-year-old is returning to welcome Mackenzie Stiller to the UFC after Jamey-Lyn Horth retired.
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Canada’s Melissa Croden is also back in action at UFC Edmonton, looking to build some momentum in the bantamweight division. It’s a fun fighter to watch so far in the UFC, but it only gets you so far at women’s bantamweight. If you want to stand out in a big way, you have to start finding some big things, like he did in his UFC debut against Tainara Lisboa a year ago.
A quick read:
Tanner Boser (+200) def. Jonathan Diniz (-250)
Nick Galanti (-600) def. Julian Leblanc (+425)
Javad Mahjoub def. Joel Faglier (120)
Katlyn Cerminara def. Mackenzie Stiller (+240)
Stephen Koslow (-150) def. Chad Anheliger (+125)
Melissa Croden (-300) def. Chelsea Chandler (+240)
Cody Chovancek (-145) def. Soo Young Yoo (CX)