Malott Warns Buckley: 'Tough Fight for Anybody at 170'

Mike Malott says he is confident he can beat Joaquin Buckley and anyone else in the UFC welterweight division when he headlines UFC Edmonton on Saturday.

Malott enters the main event as a slight betting favorite over Buckley on FanDuel, with the line sitting close to even money. That tight number reflects how competitive the matchup looks on paper. Malott brings a four-fight winning streak into the fight, highlighted by a TKO victory over Gilbert Burns, the biggest win of his career. Buckley, meanwhile, is known across the division as one of its most dangerous finishers and has given trouble to several ranked opponents.

"I think he's very clearly one of the best guys in the world," Malott said to UFC.com. "He's a gamer, solid athlete. He's a fighter, he doesn't seem like a guy that is gonna roll over easily, and he's beaten a bunch of the best guys in the world, had tough fights with a lot of the other best guys in the world, super-skilled opponent. I'd just rather be me going into this one."

What Makes Malott Confident Against Buckley

Malott's confidence comes from believing his well-rounded skill set gives him an answer for whatever Buckley brings. He has shown he can win on the feet and on the mat, and he says that versatility makes him a nightmare matchup for the entire 170-pound division, not just for Buckley.

"I like my skill set, I like the hard work I've put in, I know what I bring to the table," Malott said. "I'm a tough fight for anybody in the world at 170, man. Everything is falling into place at the right time."

Malott also laid out exactly what a win would mean for his career trajectory. "A win here should plant me pretty comfortably in the top 10," he said. "I've had two wins over top 15 opponents already, and this one should put me comfortably in the top 10, and I don't want to look past that too much right now. Of course, in the back of my mind, there is one very clear big goal for my career, and that puts me closer to that goal. But for right now, I'm just focused on having the best performance of my career to date."

Betting Angle

The FanDuel number tells the real story here: oddsmakers see this as close to a coin flip, with Malott a modest favorite in his own backyard and Buckley only a slight underdog. That kind of line usually signals a stylistic puzzle rather than a clear mismatch, and it matches the matchup on paper. Buckley's power and finishing instincts make him live in any exchange, while Malott's grappling gives him a path to control the fight if the striking gets dicey early. For bettors, a fight this evenly priced often comes down to live wagering once the pace and range are established in the first round, rather than anything decided on paper beforehand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is favored to win Malott vs. Buckley at UFC Edmonton?

Mike Malott opened as a slight betting favorite over Joaquin Buckley on FanDuel ahead of their UFC Edmonton main event, with the line close to even money.

What is Mike Malott's current win streak heading into UFC Edmonton?

Mike Malott is riding a four-fight winning streak into UFC Edmonton, including a TKO victory over Gilbert Burns, the biggest win of his career.

What happens if Mike Malott beats Joaquin Buckley?

Malott said a win over Joaquin Buckley should move him comfortably into the UFC welterweight top 10 rankings.