UFC Edmonton Weigh-Ins: All 26 Fighters Make Weight Ahead of Buckley-Malott Main Event

3 min read
Source: MMA Fighting
UFC Edmonton Weigh-Ins: All 26 Fighters Make Weight Ahead of Buckley-Malott Main Event
Photo: MMA Fighting
TL;DR

All 26 fighters successfully made weight for UFC Fight Night 291 in Edmonton, Canada, on Friday, October 16. Headliners Joaquin Buckley and Mike Malott both weighed in at 170.5 pounds for their five-round welterweight bout. The co-main event features flyweights Erin Blanchfield and Jasmine Jasudavicius, with a potential title shot on the line. The event takes place at Rogers Place on Saturday, October 17, with the main card airing at 8 p.m. ET on Paramount+.

Key points

  • Joaquin Buckley and Mike Malott both weighed in at 170.5 pounds for the five-round welterweight main event.
  • Erin Blanchfield (125 lbs) and Jasmine Jasudavicius (124.5 lbs) will compete in the co-main event, with a potential title shot on the line.
  • All 26 fighters on the 13-match card successfully made weight, with only minor scares from Kyle Daukaus and Melissa Croden early in the weigh-in window.
  • The event takes place at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Canada, on Saturday, October 17, with the main card airing at 8 p.m. ET on Paramount+.
  • Buckley is seeking to stop a two-fight skid, while Malott aims to extend his winning streak to four.

Background

This event follows recent UFC activity in Canada and global MMA developments. Buckley is coming off a lopsided loss to Sean Brady at UFC 328, where he was taken down four times and controlled for over 12 minutes. Malott is on a four-fight winning streak, including a dominant knockout victory over Gilbert Burns. The event also follows the release of undefeated bantamweight Farid Basharat by the UFC after a seven-fight winning streak, highlighting the promotion's ongoing roster adjustments.

How outlets are covering it

MMA Fighting and UFC.com emphasize the successful weigh-ins and the significance of the main event and co-main event, with UFC.com noting the rankings of the fighters (Buckley No. 10, Malott No. 13, Blanchfield No. 4, Jasudavicius No. 7). Sherdog confirms that all 26 fighters made weight, highlighting the professionalism of the athletes. MMA Junkie provides analysis from Sean Brady, who predicts Buckley will win due to his cardio and power, despite Malott's early advantages. Buckley's team emphasizes his ability to fight forward, while Malott's camp focuses on exploiting Buckley's grappling weaknesses. The perspectives differ in their emphasis on the fighters' strengths and the potential outcome of the main event, with Brady and Buckley's team favoring Buckley, and Malott's camp and former champion Belal Muhammad favoring Malott's grappling control.

Why it matters

The successful weigh-ins ensure that the main event and co-main event will proceed as scheduled, with potential title shots on the line for the flyweight division. The bout between Buckley and Malott is seen as a litmus test for Malott's ascent into the top 10 of the welterweight division, while Buckley needs a strong performance to stop a two-fight skid. The event also highlights the ongoing dynamics in the UFC, including roster adjustments and the importance of cardio and power in long-distance fights.

What to watch

The main card of UFC Fight Night 291 will air at 8 p.m. ET on Paramount+ on Saturday, October 17, with the preliminary card starting at 5 p.m. ET. The event will be broadcast in Canada on Sportsnet and TVA Sports. The early prelims will stream on UFC Fight Pass at 5 p.m. ET. The outcomes of the main event and co-main event will determine the next steps for the fighters, including potential title shots and ranking changes.

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