Canada, will host the UFC this Sunday with a welterweight main event between Joaquin Buckley and local Mike Malott.
We have had no shortage of finishes during the last three straight UFC events and heaps to hoping that continues this weekend.
Here are my best betting plays.
Joaquin Buckley put together a string of six consecutive wins during 2023 and 2024 including knockout wins over Vicente Luque, Wonderboy Thompson and Colby Covington which put him on the precipice of a title shot.
Unfortunately he has now lost his last two in a row to Kamaru Usman and Sean Brady, both by decision.
Mike Malott earns this main event spot in front of his home crowd thanks to four wins in a row which includes a TKO victory over Gilbert Burns in April.
In fact, he has just one loss on his fighting resume since 2014 proving he belongs at the top of the division fighting the best of the best.
He is a well rounded mixed martial artist and he loves fighting at home in Canada which is where his last six straight fights have taken place.
He’ll need to avoid the big shot from his opponent who can finish the fight with one strike like he has done on many occasions.
Over five rounds, I’m not sure he can.
Erin Blanchfield is the number three ranked women’s flyweight and at 26 years of age, is entering the peak of her career.
She climbed the ranking early on in her UFC career, winning her first six fights in the promotion but her momentum was halted by Manon Fiorot in Atlantic City in March 2024 when she lost a decision.
She bounced back by beating former champion Rose Namajunas over five rounds and submitted Tracy Cortez to end 2025.
Jasmine Jasudavicius won five fights in a row as she too climbed the flyweight rankings but, like her opponent, she was beaten by Fiorot this time last year in Vancouver.
The last time she fought in Edmonton, she showed her grappling abilities with a Brabo choke submission against Bueno Silva and this is an area of her game that is very dangerous.
Unfortunately I think it will be another loss for the home team but I do think the judges will be needed.
Canadian Kyle Nelson made his debut as a short notice replacement in 2018 at UFC 231 in Toronto and had just one win in his first six fights in the promotion.
Since then he has won four of six but the two losses were by first round knockout.
Perez is a 27 year old Mexican fighter who has a pro MMA record of 15:2 and 12 of those wins have been finishes.
He won a UFC contract in August through Dana White’s Contender Series and although he has been thrown into the deep end against a local fighter, look for him to take the fight to the canvas and find a submission.