UFC Edmonton predictions for Buckley vs. Malott
The Octagon travels to Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on Saturday, October 17, for UFC Edmonton: Buckley vs. Malott.
There are 13 fights on the card featuring 12 Canadians, and here are our picks for all of the bouts.
Welterweight bout: Joaquin Buckley vs. Mike Malott
American Buckley meets Canadian transplant Malott in the main event of UFC Edmonton in a pivotal battle between two of the UFC’s top-15-ranked welterweights.
While you can never discount the possibility of a Buckley knockout, Malott is the more well-rounded MMA fighter who is also more durable, and I see him knocking Buckley out here to earn the biggest win of his UFC career to date and a top-10 ranking at 170 lbs.
Pick: Mike Malott via TKO
Related: Top 5 prospects from season 10 of Dana White’s Contender Series
Women’s flyweight bout: Erin Blanchfield vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
American’s Blanchfield will look to cement her place as the No. 1 contender at 125 lbs when she takes on Canada’s own Jasudavicius, the best women’s fighter in the country.
While it would be great to see Jasudavicius win as it would give Canada another true superstar, I don’t see it happening here, as I see Blanchfield taking her down and grinding out a decision win on the judges’ scorecards.
Pick: Erin Blanchfield via decision
Lightweight bout: Kyle Nelson vs. Cristian Perez
Canada’s Nelson has KO power but a weak chin, and that is going to be a problem here against Perez, who has power but is more durable as the younger fighter in this matchup.
Take Perez to knock Nelson out and likely send him packing from the UFC.
Pick: Cristian Perez via TKO
Middleweight bout: Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Kyle Daukaus
Quebec’s Barriault and American Daukaus are two middleweights who are known for standing in the center of the Octagon and trading until someone falls, and that’s exactly what I see happening here in a fight.
I would be shocked if it went three full rounds, so go with Daukaus to clip Barriault and finish him in the first round.
Pick: Kyle Daukaus via TKO
Bantamweight bout: Louis Jourdain vs. Timmy Cuamba
Quebec’s Jourdain finally makes his UFC debut after getting a contract a year ago when he takes on America’s Cuamba, who has had a very up-and-down run in the UFC.
Jourdain is the prospect with the higher ceiling, and I think he wins this fight by submission.
Pick: Louis Jourdain via submission
Lightweight bout: Mandel Nallo vs. Nate Landwehr
Canada’s Nallo hits hard and has a weak chin, which is the same you can say about the veteran American Landwehr in a fight that is not going the distance.
Although Landwehr has a puncher’s chance, I like Nallo to catch him early and KO him in the first round to collect his first UFC victory.
Pick: Mandel Nallo via TKO
UFC Edmonton Preliminary Card Preview & Picks
Heavyweight bout: Tanner Boser vs. Jhonata Diniz
Albert’s Boser will have the hometown crowd cheering for him here to defeat Brazil’s Diniz, but his chin will likely let him down once again as I see Diniz knocking Boser out.
Pick: Jhonata Diniz via TKO
Middleweight bout: Julien Leblanc vs. Nick Galanti
Leblanc is one of the weakest Canadian fighters on the roster, and he has a brutal matchup here against Galanti, who is the biggest favorite on the card for a reason.
Look for Galanti to take Leblanc down and submit him in the first round to mark a successful UFC debut for the American fighter.
Pick: Nick Galanti via submission
Heavyweight bout: Javad Mahjoub vs. Joel Faglier
Iranian-born Canadian resident Mahjoub makes his UFC debut here against American Faglier, who is also fighting inside the Octagon for the first time.
I was impressed by what I saw from Faglier on his fight tape from the regional circuit, and I like him to come in here and take out the Canadian with a knockout win.
Pick: Joel Faglier via TKO
Women’s flyweight bout: Katlyn Cerminara vs. Mackenzie Stiller
One of the most straightforward fights to pick on the entire card sees Cerminara make her return after two years away due to having a child against UFC newcomer Stiller.
Cerminara is the bigger, more experienced, and overall superior MMA fighter, and I have no doubt she wins a decision here in the only fight on the card that does not feature a Canadian fighter.
Pick: Katlyn Cerminara via decision
Bantamweight bout: Chad Anheliger vs. Steven Koslow
Alberta’s Anheliger is 39 years old and clearly on the decline, but Koslow is someone I just can’t pick given he hasn’t fought in four years, which is a crazy-long layoff in MMA.
Give me Anheliger to give the Canadian crowd something to cheer about with a knockout win in the latter rounds once Koslow gasses out from failing to get a submission early on.
Pick: Chad Anheliger via TKO
Women’s bantamweight bout: Melissa Croden vs. Chelsea Chandler
Canada’s own Croden will look to get another win in the UFC against Chandler, and she should do just that.
Croden is the bigger, stronger fighter and has finishing ability, and I like her to take Chandler down to the mat and finish her with a TKO via ground-and-pound.
Pick: Melissa Croden via TKO
Bantamweight bout: Cody Chovancek vs. SuYoung Yoo
Chovancek was a standout on Season 9 of Dana White’s Contender Series last year, but the Ontario native hasn’t fought in the UFC until now due to injuries.
Still, despite the one-year layoff, I like Chovancek to enter the Octagon and get a win over Yoo by knockout to kick off the UFC Edmonton card with a Canadian getting their hand raised.
Pick: Cody Chovancek via TKO
Related: Israel Adesanya vs. Shara Magomedov is A+ matchmaking by the UFC
This story was originally published by Lindy's Sports on Oct 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the Other Sports section. Add Lindy's Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.