Joaquin Buckley, UFC Tampa ceremonial weigh-ins at the Amalie Arena, Dec. 13, 2024 Credit: Jay Anderson/Cageside Press
The UFC traveled to Edmonton for the first time since November of 2024 on Saturday. The 13-fight card delivered as all but one of the bouts ended in finishes. That feat actually tied UFC Serbia for the most finishes on a UFC card in modern history. On this edition of losers a couple of ranked fighters in Joaquin Buckley and Erin Blanchfield, a couple of Kyles, a fighter making their promotional debut and a fighter cling to their roster spot.
Joaquin Buckley
(#11) Mike Malott delighted the Canadian crowd in the main event of UFC Edmonton, as he flatlined (#8) Joaquin Buckley with a picture-perfect knee to the head. Buckley is now 11-7 with the promotion and has lost his last three (Kamaru Usman and Sean Brady). Before this slide Buckley was riding a six-fight win streak, so he’s completely lost his momentum.
Buckley’s next fight should be against the loser of Kevin Holland vs. Uros Medic. That fight is scheduled for about a month away on November 14. All things considered, pretty ideal timing for a matchup considering Buckley will need some extra recovery time.
If Uros loses that fight, he would fall to 8-4 with the UFC and would have his four-fight win streak snapped. Heading into his fight with Holland, Uros has stopped his last four opponents in the first round (Gilbert Urbina, Muslim Salikhov, Geoff Neal and Daniel Rodriguez). If Buckley ends up taking on Holland than it’ll be a rematch for the pair, who first met in 2020. Holland finished Buckley early in the final round of that one. Holland would be 16-13, 1 NC with the UFC with a loss to Medic. He would have lost three of his last four including an October 2025 unanimous decision defeat to Mike Malott.
Either way would force an excellent striking battle to stay within the ranks of the uber competitive, welterweight division. Could easily be the co main event of a fight night or on the main card of a numbered event.
Buckley’s next fight: (#9) Uros Medic vs. (#14) Kevin Holland loser
Erin Blanchfield
(#6) Jasmine Jasudavicius secured a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over (#3) Erin Blanchfield in the co main event of UFC Edmonton on Saturday. This upset snapped a two-fight win streak for Blanchfield as she defeated Rose Namajuas and Tracy Cortez. Blanchfield is now 8-2 with the UFC since she was signed in 2021. Her other loss came against Manon Fiorot in early 2024.
Erin’s next fight should be against Wang Cong. This is a matchup that was targeted in a previous edition of losers and just happened to age perfectly for this bout to be scheduled. Cong just fought on UFC 332 earlier this month where she lost a unanimous decision to Natalia Silva for the vacant UFC women’s flyweight belt. Cong was riding a four-fight win streak before that. The ultra-active Cong has gone 5-2 since being signed to the promotion mid 2024. Her other loss came to Gabriella Fernandes in November of 2024. It was the first loss of Cong’s pro MMA career. This would be an excellent grappler first striker matchup that could go on the main card of a numbered card.
Blanchfield’s next fight: (#8) Wang Cong
Kyle Nelson
Cristian Perez took less than 30 seconds to flatten and finish the hometown fighter, Kyle Nelson on Saturday. With the loss Nelson falls to 5-7-1 in the UFC since being with the promotion since 2018. Nelson, an all-action fighter has lost three of his last four bouts, and all in the first round (Steve Garcia and Terrance McKinney).
Kyle’s next fight should be against Matheus Camilo. This matchup is one that was pulled from a previous edition of losers.
Matheus is 2-2 with the UFC and had his 2-fight win streak snapped in his last time out against Jai Herbert earlier this month. Jai actually also defeated Kyle by unanimous decision as well way back in 2022. This matchup could offer a high action, fan first battle with a high likelihood of delivering a finish. Timing is perfect as well for this one.
Nelson’s next fight: Matheus Camilo
Kyle Daukaus
Marc-Andre Barriault got back into the win column on Saturday with his late first round finish of Kyle Daukaus on the main card of UFC Edmonton. Kyle is now 4-6, 1 NC through two stints with the UFC This second stint with the UFC started with two first round victories over Michel Pereira and Gerald Meerschaert. Daukaus was then stopped by Bo Nickal in the first round back in June, and now the result on Saturday (So, he’s 2-2 in the second stint).
For his next fight Daukaus should take on Vicente Luque. This fight was scheduled for April but was cancelled after Kyle rebooked for his fight with Bo Nickal. Luque instead fought Kelvin Gastelum, who he submitted in the first round. Vicenter lost his next, and most recent bout, to Tresean Gore in a grueling fight on UFC 330’s undercard in August. Luque is 17-9 with the UFC since being signed in 2015. This would be an excellent one for the promotion to circle back around to as now Luque has lost three of his last four. Timing is the only thing that isn’t ideal with this matchup.
Daukaus’s next fight: Vicente Luque
Louis Jourdain
Timmy Cuamba looked comfortable on Saturday as he took two rounds to secure a nasty submission finish against Louis Jourdain in what was the Canadian’s promotional debut. Nightmare debut for Jourdain but he’ll get another crack at it (though that may not get to come in Canada again for a little).
Louis should fight Malcolm Wellmaker in his next fight. This is a matchup first targeted on a previous edition of losers and has aged decently. Wellmaker fought and was finished earlier this month. Malcolm was once 2-0 with two bonuses under his belt but has since dropped three straight. Excellent matchup for both gentlemen here. It may be a bit dangerous but a great litmus test to see which guy will be the name that takes a positive step and gains so relevancy within the promotion.
Jourdain’s next fight: Malcolm Wellmaker
Nate Landwehr
Mandel Nallo secured his first win with the UFC as he took two rounds to batter and stop fan-favorite, Nate Landwehr, to open the main card of UFC Edmonton on Saturday. Nate is now 5-7 with the UFC since being signed in 2020. Landwehr is on a four-fight slide and has been finished in each of those appearances (Doo Ho Choi, Morgan Charriere, and Cub Swanson). Saturday was also Landwehr’s first fight at 155lbs. with the UFC. Nate turns 39 next year and seems to be abandoning his dramatic weight cut.
Landwehr’s next fight should be against Francisco Prado. Francisco is just 24 years old but is 2-5 with the promotion. Prado finished an overweight Ismael Bonfim in his last appearance earlier this month. Prado was on a four-fight skid including three fights at welterweight, he was moving back down. This is an interesting one that is guaranteed to not go the distance. Loser could potentially face being cut from the promotion.
Landwehr’s next fight: Francisco Prado