Mike Malott: Yohan Lainesse bout 'a great opportunity to show what Canadian MMA is about' at UFC Fight Night 220

LAS VEGAS – Mike Malott would rather not fight a fellow Canadian but is happy they get the platform at UFC Fight Night 220.

Ontario’s Malott (8-1-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) meets Quebec’s Yohan Lainesse (9-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) on Saturday’s main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

With only a few active Canadian UFC fighters on the roster, Malott sees his fight with Lainesse also as a chance to display their country’s talent on the big stage.

“Yeah, it’s unfortunate I’m fighting another Canadian,” Malott told reporters, including MMA Junkie, on Wednesday at UFC Fight Night 220 media day. “I want as many of us in here as we can get. I’ve always loved watching Canadians fight in the UFC. So, having to fight a guy and only one of us getting to win is a little unfortunate, but I’m not thinking about it too much past that.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to show what Canadian MMA is about, because all you’re going to see is Canadian MMA in this fight. So for the Canadian MMA fans, I think this is a cool one. This is the unofficial Canadian welterweight world title here. This is the two most highly ranked Canadian welterweights I think that are active right now. So, I think it’s kind of a cool fight in that way.”

Canadian MMA legends Georges St-Pierre and Rory MacDonald are currently retired, and Malott is perhaps Canada’s brightest prospect in the UFC. The Team Alpha Male fighter has finished all his wins in the first round, most recently a knockout of Mickey Gall at UFC 273.

“We don’t have somebody right now clearly leading the way for Canadians right now,” Malott said. “I’m very happy to carry that torch and move forward. I plan on continuing to do that on Saturday. Again, unfortunately it’s against another Canadian, but hopefully this will be the last Canadian I fight, and we can move forward, kind of Canada vs. the rest of the world and lead a solid charge.

“We’ve got a really strong crop of fighters coming up in Canada, so I expect to lead a good charge – especially from Ontario and there’s some kids that come out from Alberta to train a little bit with us too. I think we’re going to see a big resurgence in Canadian MMA in the next few years.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 220.