Canada’s own Mike Malott will be coming home — or just about as close to it as he can get in the UFC — this January.
Malott (10-1-1) will face veteran Neil Magny (28-11) in a welterweight match-up as part of UFC 297 on January 20, 2024. While not officially announced by the promotion, multiple sources previously confirmed to Cageside Press that the event will be held at the ScotiaBank Arena in Toronto, ON.
MMA Fighting was first to report news of the match-up, with Malott later confirming the booking on social media.
This is our house 🇨🇦 #UFC297 #TheMilitia🍁 pic.twitter.com/7Ux7kIyLT6
— Proper. Mike Malott (@Michael_Malott) October 19, 2023
The fight will represent a considerable step up in competition for “Proper” Mike Malott, who will be competing for just the fourth time under the UFC banner. The welterweight, who has served as a coach with Team Alpha Male, won his way into the company on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021. He has posted a 3-0 record inside the octagon to date, most recently dispatching Adam Fugitt at UFC 289 in Vancouver this past June.
Originally from Burlington, Ontario, Malott also holds wins under the UFC banner over Mickey Gall and fellow Canadian standout Yohan Lainesse. In Magny, however, he has the opportunity to break into the top 15 in the welterweight division.
Holding the record for most fights and most wins in welterweight history, Magny currently sits ranked #14 in the weight class. He’ll be looking to bounce back from a loss to another hot 170lb prospect, Ian Machado Garry.
UFC 297 marks the promotion’s second date in Canada since the coronavirus pandemic waned, leading to the world opening up again. The card does not have a main event announced or reported, but the following fights have been linked to the January show:
- Arnold Allen vs. Movsar Evloev
- Brad Katona vs. Garrett Armfield
- Gillian Robertson vs. Polyana Viana
- Serhiy Sidey vs. Ramon Taveras
- Chris Curtis vs. Marc-Andre Barriault
- Malcolm Gordon vs. Jimmy Flick
- Neil Magny vs. Mike Malott
