UFC Fight Night: Buckley vs Malott Prediction and Betting Odds

The main event at UFC Fight Night will see Joaquin Buckley square up to Mike Malott in a welterweight clash between two quality opponents.

The pair will meet in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on Sunday, October 18, with the fight expected to start around 12:30 AEDT.

Quick Picks

Our pick: Buckley to win

Value bet: Buckley to win by TKO/KO

Long shot: Fight to go the distance

Tale of the Tape

Buckley has the stronger incentive to make this physical and uncomfortable; Malott benefits from a more controlled fight with clear transitions between striking, clinching and grappling.

Malott brings a four-fight winning streak into this clash, including a stoppage of Gilbert Burns, while Buckley is trying to recover from consecutive losses after previously winning six on the bounce.

With Buckley southpaw and Malott orthodox, there is plenty to watch when both are inside the Octagon.

How do the two compare? Buckley’s figures are first…

• Age - 32 vs 34
• Height - 5'10" (178cm) vs 6'1" (185cm)
• Stance - Southpaw vs Orthodox
• Record - 21-8-0 vs 14-2-1
• KO Record - 15 vs 6

Betting Preview

How have they performed in their last five fights?

Buckley's last five fights:

• Sean Brady - Loss (UD, 3) - May 2026
• Kamaru Usman - Loss (UD, 5) - Jun 2025
• Colby Covington - Win (TKO, 3) - Dec 2024
• Stephen Thompson - Win (TKO, 3) - Oct 2024
• Nursulton Ruziboev - Win (UD, 3) - May 2024

Malott’s last five fights:

• Gilbert Burns - Win (TKO, 3) - Apr 2026
• Kevin Holland - Win (UD, 3) - Oct 2025
• Charles Radtke - Win (TKO, 2) - May 2025
• Trevin Giles - Win (UD, 3) - Nov 2024
• Neil Magny - Loss (TKO, 3) - Jan 2024

Betting Markets to Watch

Malott has been made the slight favourite in the latest UFC fight odds, with his winning record of 10 in the last 11 likely reflecting the prices offered. 

At the same time, Buckley’s last two fights in the UFC have ended in loss, as have each of his four across UFC and wrestling.

However, Buckley arguably has value as the perceived underdog. Malott’s grappling threat is credible, but his ability to impose prolonged control against this opponent is less certain than Buckley’s ability to make standing exchanges dangerous.

As a result, a middle-to-late TKO could be the method of victory for Buckley, which is likely to have value. Still, for this to happen, he’ll need to be at the top of his game and ensure his takedown defence holds.

Our Prediction

Check the latest Buckley vs Malott betting odds at Sportsbet.

Our prediction is that Buckley is the likely winner, with a TKO/KO victory most likely.

It’s worth recognising that Malott is Canadian and may have the crowd in his favour, which could be enough for him to have an edge. Buckley’s recent record is far from confidence-inducing, but he has the skill.

Our long shot is in the fight to go the distance; nine of Malott’s last 11 haven’t gone the distance, but this bout looks hugely competitive and could require all five rounds to determine a winner.

If you are weighing up the rest of the card, you can find more UFC fight predictions to guide your picks across upcoming events.