UFC Edmonton Main Event: Buckley vs. Malott Predictions

UFC Edmonton puts Joaquin Buckley and Mike Malott at the center of a five-round welterweight main event at Rogers Place, with both fighters looking to turn Saturday night into a statement win.

Mike Malott will have a Canadian crowd roaring him forward in Edmonton, but Joaquin Buckley carries a rather effective mute button in his fists.

  • Buckley vs. Malott Best Bet 1: Buckley to Win at 2.00 [+100] at ibet
  • Buckley vs. Malott Best Bet 2: Fight to Go the Distance/No at 1.52 [-192] at ibet
  • Find the best UFC odds at ibet sportsbook!

UFC Edmonton

Saturday’s UFC main event at Rogers Place gives Malott the chance to turn four consecutive victories into a place inside the welterweight top 10. After stopping Gilbert Burns in April, the Canadian gets another established name on home soil, although Buckley arrives with considerably more urgency than he would like. Two straight defeats have stalled the American’s charge, and a third would leave him with some serious rebuilding to do.

Malott has the submission threat to make Buckley uncomfortable, particularly after the American’s recent struggles against strong grapplers. Getting him down, however, means navigating the explosive offense that made Buckley a contender in the first place.

Can Malott keep Canada’s celebrations rolling, or does Buckley remind everyone how quickly momentum disappears when a clean punch lands? Let’s break it down with my Buckley vs. Malott main event picks, analysis, and predictions, including the best bets to play at iBet.

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Buckley vs. Malott UFC Edmonton: Tale of The Tape

Joaquin BuckleyMike Malott
CountryUSACanada
Age3234
Pro Record (Win/Loss)13-517-3
KO/Submission8 KOs, 1 Submissions9 KOs, 7 Submissions
Height5’10”6’1”
Reach76”73”
Win/Loss (Last 5)L/W/W/W/WW/W/W/W/L
Moneyline Price2.00 [+100]1.72 [-139]

Inside the Octagon UFC Edmonton: Buckley vs. Malott Prediction & Analysis

Canada’s Own

Mike Malott, with a 7-1 UFC record and recent wins over Gilbert Burns and Kevin Holland, seems pretty good on paper. And sure, it’s not bad, but I somehow feel like the UFC is desperate for Canadian talent, and the matchmaking has been a perfect time, perfect place scenario for the most part.

Stylistically, Malott is known as a grappler, and his striking has certainly leveled up during his UFC stint. However, I’m always looking for fighters who’re elite in one area, especially as they climb the rankings, and I just don’t see it with the Canadian.

We mustn’t forget how veteran Neil Magny fought back from a losing position to finish Malott in the third round in 2024. Since then, Malott hasn’t really faced a top-tier level of competition, and while his weekend opponent isn’t necessarily that, it’ll undoubtedly be the toughest test of his career to date.

The American Visitor

Joaquin Buckley stumbled a six-fight winning streak once he reached the top-five rankings, as back-to-back losses have certainly tarnished his rise at 170lbs. That said, how much slack can we give a man who lost to two of the division’s best wrestlers?

There’s been a lot of talk about how terrible Buckley’s takedown defense was in those aforementioned bouts, but we’re talking about Sean Brady and Kamaru Usman. Personally, I don’t see many contenders in this division handling those takedowns either, and before that, Colby Covington and Ruziboev, two respected wrestlers in their own right, couldn’t get through “New Mansa,” whose “awful” takedown defense won him those contests with ease.

UFC Edmonton Buckley vs. Malott Betting Picks

Buckley Moneyline

Ask yourself: what would the odds be for this fight if Buckley hadn’t lost his previous two? Now ask yourself, do you put Malott’s wrestling in the same category as  Usman and Brady? We know the answer: Buckley would be a -200 or more favorite, and no, not even close!

Don’t get me wrong, I respect Malott’s talents and this fight is winnable. However, I don’t think he has the strength, skill level, or cardio to put on a full wrestling display, not without entering a serious danger zone that is Buckley’s pure red-zone power.

Malott, I feel, will be willing to strike with Buckley, and that’ll be his downfall. He’s not a wrestler at heart, and the sharper, more powerful striker is a great underdog bet capable of upsetting the home crowd at UFC Edmonton.

Buckley to Win at 2.00 [+100]

Fight Goes the Distance/No

I’m sorry, but if you’re getting stopped by Neil Magny, do you really have the durability to handle Buckley? I don’t think so… Twenty-five minutes is a long time, and Malott has never gone the distance in a five-round fight.

Again, Malott’s striking isn’t bad, and I think a level of confidence in the standup will give Buckley all the opportunities for power shots over the top that he needs. So, yes, the knockout is live, and with that, FDGTD feels like a valid alternative wager to backing the money line.

Fight Goes the Distance/No at 1.52 [-192]

UFC Edmonton Event Information

  • Date & Time: Saturday, October 17, 2026 – 11:00 p.m. CET
  • Location: Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  • How to Watch: UFC Fight Pass, Paramount+ & Viaplay
  • Main Event Bout: Joaquin Buckley vs. Mike Malott
  • Co-Main Event Bout: Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Erin Blanchfield

ibet Sportsbook Promotions for UFC Betting

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Dave Manyun
Dave Manyun

David Manyun is a veteran sports writer and iGaming specialist with more than a decade of experience covering sports betting, combat sports, soccer, and wider sporting culture.

At ibet, he brings sharp fight analysis, strong betting knowledge, and a fan’s understanding of momentum, matchups, and storylines. Combat sports, especially UFC, are his strongest area, with football close behind, though his expertise spans the full sports landscape.

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