Mike Malott knocks out Joaquin Buckley as Canadians deliver at UFC Edmonton
Canadian fighters enjoyed a standout night in Edmonton. Mike Malott knocked out No. 10 welterweight Joaquin Buckley in the second round, extending his winning streak to five and calling for a top-10 opponent. Jasmine Jasudavicius defeated Erin Blanchfield by unanimous decision, while Barriault, Perez, Boser and others also secured stoppage victories.
Mike Malott strengthened his case for a place among the UFC’s top welterweights with a second-round knockout of Joaquin Buckley on Saturday at Rogers Place in Edmonton, headlining a successful night for several Canadian fighters.
The Burlington, Ontario, native stopped Buckley at 2:32 of the second round, extending his winning streak to five fights. In the co-main event, Jasmine Jasudavicius earned a unanimous decision over Erin Blanchfield, adding another significant result for Canada’s growing presence in the UFC rankings.
The card also featured first-round stoppage victories from Marc-André Barriault and Cristian Perez, while Tanner Boser secured a third-round TKO on the preliminary card.
Malott delivers decisive finish against Buckley
Malott faced resistance early against Buckley, who entered the contest ranked No. 10 in the welterweight division. The American found success with his boxing in the opening round, countering several of Malott’s kicks and preventing the Canadian from establishing a comfortable rhythm.
The fight changed midway through the second round.
As Buckley moved forward with a left hand, Malott connected with a knee to the jaw that immediately sent his opponent to the canvas. A follow-up punch prompted referee Marc Goddard to stop the contest.
The victory improved Malott’s professional record to 15-2-1 and continued his rise through the 170-pound division.
“I’m on top of the world right now man, this is incredible,” Malott said after the fight.
The Canadian had entered the event ranked No. 13 and was coming off a TKO victory over former title challenger Gilbert Burns in Winnipeg. His latest result gives him another argument for a higher-ranked opponent in his next appearance.
Malott avoided calling out a specific fighter but made his ambitions clear.
“Somebody in the top 10 [next] at the very least, maybe top five next,” he said.
For Buckley, the defeat extended a difficult stretch to three consecutive losses. The 32-year-old, now 21-9, had previously dropped decisions against Sean Brady and Kamaru Usman after putting together six straight victories.
Malott also expressed interest in competing at UFC 336, scheduled for January 30, 2027, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. His participation has not been confirmed.
Jasudavicius earns major victory over Blanchfield
Jasmine Jasudavicius produced one of the most important wins of her UFC career, defeating Erin Blanchfield by unanimous decision in the women’s flyweight co-main event.
All three judges scored the contest 29-28 for the Canadian, who used her grappling and control on the ground to secure the result.
Jasudavicius improved to 16-4 and has now won seven of her last eight fights, strengthening her position in the division’s championship picture.
Blanchfield, who entered the matchup with a 14-2 record, suffered just her second defeat in the UFC and fell to 14-3 overall.
The result was particularly significant given Blanchfield’s standing among the division’s leading contenders. Jasudavicius entered as the underdog but successfully imposed her approach over three rounds.
While the victory could improve her chances of earning a title opportunity, the UFC has not announced her next opponent.
Canadian fighters add to strong night in Edmonton
The home crowd had several other performances to celebrate throughout the event.
Marc-André Barriault stopped Kyle Daukaus with elbows at 4:28 of the opening round in their middleweight contest, while Cristian Perez needed just 27 seconds to knock out Kyle Nelson in a lightweight matchup.
On the preliminary card, Canadian heavyweight Tanner Boser defeated Jhonata Diniz by TKO at 4:26 of the third round.
Nick Galanti also recorded a first-round submission victory over Julien Leblanc, finishing the middleweight bout with a face crank at 1:26.
Elsewhere on the main card, Timmy Cuamba submitted Louis Jourdain in the second round, and Mandel Nallo stopped Nate Landwehr early in the second with leg kicks and punches.
The Edmonton event gave Canadian MMA two notable results at the top of the card. Malott moved closer to the welterweight elite with another finish, while Jasudavicius added a high-profile victory to her résumé.
With the UFC preparing to return to Toronto in January, both performances also arrive at an important time for the promotion’s Canadian schedule.
