Malott, who has three first-round finishes in his four UFC bouts, is the heavy betting favorite going into the bout, and a victory against ‘The Haitian Sensation’ will certainly help him break into the rankings of the 170-pound welterweight division. As ‘Proper’ gears up to face the first ranked fighter in his UFC career, let us take a look at the only loss on his record.
Mike Malott on a six-fight win streak since lone loss on record
Mike Malott began training in mixed martial arts at the age of 17 when he joined the House of Champions gym in his native Stoney Creek, Ontario. The Canadian took well to the sport and had fought and won his first MMA fight by the time he left university.
A promising prospect in the Canadian MMA circuit, the sole loss Malott has suffered came in his fifth professional MMA fight at the hands of Hakeem Dawodu at WSOF 14 back in 2014. Dawodu ended the Canadian’s four-win streak after catching him off guard by a jab followed by a flurry of blows that went unanswered, prompting the referee to step in and end the fight in the last minute of the first round.
Malott has bounced back strongly from the loss and has won six consecutive fights since. His next bout against Magny at UFC 297 may be a consequential one. The Haitian has essentially served as the gatekeeper to the top ten and a dominant win against him will help announce him as a serious contender in the 170-pound division. And Malott is well aware of this
Malott looking at Magny as first step towards title soon
Mike Malott spoke about the stakes going into his UFC 297 bout against Neil Magny in a recent interview. He felt the Haitian was a “well-known guy” and the best he could get for the position he is in. “I see No. 13. That’s what I see. I see an opportunity to beat this guy, stop this guy and get a number beside my name. And once I get that number beside my name, I’m on the ladder, and I can start my climb,” he said, indicating a victory would get him closer to being in the title mix over the next couple of years
And the Canadian, while acknowledging Magny’s longevity and willingness to fight the best guys in the division, is supremely confident of victory. But the proof, as they say, is in the pudding and Magny, like Malott is a world-class grappler who will be at his best fighting on the ground. And with his considerable experience against top guys in the promotion, he is not a foe to be taken lightly even as the younger and hungrier Malott looks more threatening going into the bout.
Watch this story: Jorge Masvidal And Chael Sonnen Go Back And Forth
