UFC Edmonton is this weekend. This means it’s time for Canada’s bi-annual national holiday: Mike Malott Day. That’s where one of Ontario’s own headlines a UFC card no matter where it is in Canada and no matter if it’s multiple timezones away from his hometown (as it is this weekend).
These Canada cards are trying to make the most out of a shallow talent pool north of the border right now. It’s painful to see that from someone who became so big a fan, and eventually a writer, because of names like Georges St-Pierre, Rory McDonald, Patrick Cote, Sam Stout and Brock Lesnar.
It’s become a bit of a running joke that Malott has to headline every Canadian card. But, realistically, who is going to replace him right now?
Joaquin Buckley, who fights Malott in Edmonton, has had a little fun this week. He’s claimed he’s more popular in Edmonton than Malott is. And he’s also made sure everyone knows it’s Buckley vs. Malott, on the poster, and not the other way around.
Full Send MMA tried to make Malott take the bait on media day, telling him things Buckley has been saying. ‘Proper’ did his best not to bristle at Buckley’s comments and then delivered some the deadpan Letterkenny-like responses you’d expect from him.
“Listen man, he’s a great fighter, top ten in the world for a reason,” Malott offered — politely. “I’m super fortunate to have an opponent for this one that gives me an opportunity to be top ten, but as far as my name and notoriety in Canada; I’ve main evented in Canada without him, he would never main event in Canada without me.”
“He’s in the main event because I’m in the main event for this fight,” Malott continued. “We just need somebody who is in a position that I can take. And he’s the guy whose spot I’m taking.”
The reporter up there, sorry I don’t know his name, then tried to get Malott to say this was “his card”. Malott agreed, but bashfully, just like any good pond hockey playin’, Tragically Hip listen’, Moosehead drinkin’ boy would. Don’t wanna be takin’ too much of the credit and showin’ anybody up, eh?
That reporter, again — sorry I don’t know his name, then did what we media types like to do. He took the words he got out of Malott and ran right to Buckley to hear what he has to say about them.
Buckley, the more natural trash talker, jumped on the chance to call Malott an “unknown”, even on home soil.
“A lot of guys in Canada really showed me a lot of love and really just put me in a position where it’s really clear that I’m known all over,” Buckley said. “I hold a different kind of weight, when it comes to making me a main event. But Mike Malott, though, it’s just a true story; don’t nobody know you, fam.”
Buckley knows what he’s doing and he’s great at it. But despite how many pleasantries he’s had from people in Canadia, the crowd in Edmonton will likely blow the roof off for Malott, like they’ve done in Vancouver, Montreal and Winnipeg.