Tag: Mike Malott

Jon Anik admits to overhyping Mike Malott ahead of UFC 297: ‘I was guilty of overstepping a little’

Jon Anik on Mike Malott vs. Neil Magny at UFC 297Looking back, longtime UFC play-by-play man Jon Anik believes he may have gone a little too hard hyping Canadian…

Jon Anik on Mike Malott vs. Neil Magny at UFC 297

Looking back, longtime UFC play-by-play man Jon Anik believes he may have gone a little too hard hyping Canadian standout Mike Malott.

Returning to the Octagon at UFC 297 earlier this month, Malott was a significant favorite, closing at a -380 on multiple sportsbooks against welterweight gatekeeper Neil Magny. Through two rounds of action, it appeared that the oddsmakers were justified. However, the tables were turned in the third when Magny poured it on and punished an exhausted Malott. Magny scored a TKO with just 15 seconds left in the fight.

During a recent episode of The Anik & Florian Podcast, Jon Anik spoke about the immense praise he had given to Malott ahead of fight night.

“Yeah, I mean, I do think that perhaps I was guilty maybe of overstepping a little bit when it came to some of the hyperbolic stuff I was saying about Mike Malott,” Anik said. “I mean, I stopped at suggesting he’s overrated, right? But the guy never had a decision win, so experience has gotta count for something, I give Neil Magny a whole lot of credit.”

Malott’s hype was by no means misguided. Going into the bout, the Waterdown, Ontario native was 10-1-1 with all of his victories coming by way of finish, including six submissions and four knockouts. He was also riding a five-fight win streak that predated his 2021 appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series.

“I just think that sometimes we get ahead of ourselves, especially when it comes to certain guys in certain countries with all due respect to Canada,” Anik added. “We are dying to have a man take the torch, right? And we went into this fight thinking without a shadow of a doubt, the most talented Canadian mixed martial arts male right now is Mike Malott.”

Neil Magny got back into the win column following a lackluster performance against Ian Machado Garry in August. The ‘Haitian Sensation’ is now 22-10 inside the Octagon. His victory over Malott moved him up one spot to No. 12 in the welterweight rankings.

Neil Magny Mounts Epic Comeback Against Mike Malott With Seconds Left on the Clock – UFC 297 Highlights

Neil MagnyWelterweight gatekeeper Neil Magny delivered an early entry for Comeback of the Year at UFC 297. Stepping into enemy…

Neil Magny

Welterweight gatekeeper Neil Magny delivered an early entry for Comeback of the Year at UFC 297.

Stepping into enemy territory against Canadian fan favorite Mike Malott, things looked dire for Magny in the early going as he ate a series of brutal calf kicks in the opening round. Things did not improve in the second with ‘Proper’ controlling the action on the ground following a successful takedown attempt. Malott managed to mount Magny and reigned down a series of strikes. Magny’s defense allowed him to survive the onslaught and make it out of the round.

Clearly behind on the scorecards, Magny pushed the pace in the third, pressing Malott against the cage and scoring a much-needed takedown. With his opponent beginning to fatigue, Magny poured it on. Moving into mount, the ‘Haitian Sensation’ dropped a series of uncontested strikes as the clock continued to tick.

With only seconds left, Malott was unable to do anything other than cover up and attempt to absorb the strikes Magny was delivering. That was enough for the referee to step in and call for the stoppage with only 15 seconds to go in the contest.

Official Result: Neil Magny def. Mike Malott via TKO (ground and pound) at 4:45 of Round 3.

Check out Highlights From Neil Magny vs. Malott at UFC 297:

Video – Scary situation unfolds as guardrail collapses during Mike Malott’s UFC 289 walkout

Mike MalottFans in Rogers Arena couldn’t contain themselves during hometown hero Mike Malott’s walkout during the UFC 289 main card on Saturday night. Mike Malott, a native of Ontario, scored his third straight win inside the Octagon by submitting welterweight standout Adam Fugitt in the second round. However, all anyone could talk about on social media […]

Mike Malott

Fans in Rogers Arena couldn’t contain themselves during hometown hero Mike Malott’s walkout during the UFC 289 main card on Saturday night.

Mike Malott, a native of Ontario, scored his third straight win inside the Octagon by submitting welterweight standout Adam Fugitt in the second round. However, all anyone could talk about on social media was a somewhat scary situation during Malott’s walk to the cage when a guardrail separating fans from the fighters collapsed, sending attendees crashing to the concrete as Malott was moments away from his matchup.

Mike Malott Stays Undefeated Inside the Octagon

Fortunately, nobody involved in the incident appeared to be injured. And you can’t help but notice the way Malott walks past the scene completely unfazed by the sea of humanity surrounding him. Clearly, ‘Proper’ was in the zone and nothing was going to throw his concentration off. That mindset obviously served him well as he extended his record to 3-0 inside the Octagon and 10-1-1 overall.

Mike Malott wasn’t the only man to score a highlight-reel-worthy finish at UFC 289. Former lightweight world champion Charles Oliveira bounced back in a big way in the co-main event, earning a first-round TKO against streaking 155-pounder Beneil Dariush. The win will likely put ‘Do Bronx’ on course for a rematch with reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev later this year.

Elsewhere, two-division UFC champion Amanda Nunes dominated Irene Aldana in the evening’s main event. After securing the unanimous decision, ‘The Lioness’ announced that she is officially retiring from mixed martial arts, vacating both her bantamweight and featherweight titles in the process.