How a three-year hiatus transformed a Canadian prospect into a UFC contender
In short: In 2017, Mike Malott walked away from professional MMA. Rather than retiring, the Ontario native used the break to master grappling and coach elite strikers in California. This period of refinement paved the way for his rise through the welterweight ranks.
Mike Malott’s journey to the UFC welterweight rankings was not a linear ascent. After an early professional career that included a 2014 loss to Hakeem Dawodu and a 2015 draw against Ousmane Thomas Diagne, Malott stepped away from competition at the end of 2017. During this extended hiatus, he focused on technical refinement, earning a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and coaching striking at Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, California. There, he gained experience cornering prominent fighters such as Cody Garbrandt and Urijah Faber.
His return in December 2020 marked the beginning of a high-impact run. After a victory at Cage Fury 91, Malott earned a UFC contract via a standout performance on season 5 of Dana White's Contender Series, where he defeated Shimon Smotritsky with a first-round guillotine choke. Since his promotional debut at UFC 273 in April 2022, Malott has become a frequent recipient of 'Performance of the Night' bonuses, notably for bouts against Yohan Lainesse, Adam Fugly, and Gilbert Burns.
Malott's recent trajectory has been defined by both dominance and resilience. In April 2026, he secured a significant victory over former title challenger Gilbert Burns via third-round technical knockout, earning a $100,000 bonus. While he has faced setbacks, such as a technical knockout loss to Neil Magny in January 2024 and a training injury that forced a cancellation of his July 2024 bout against Gilbert Urbina, he remains a top-tier competitor. As of September 5, 2026, he holds the #11 position in the Meta UFC welterweight rankings.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Mike Malott
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