Mike Malott and Adam Fugitt fight Saturday in UFC 289 at the Rogers Arena. Malott enters this fight with a 9-1 record and has won 56 percent of his fights by submission. Fugitt enters this fight with a 9-3 record and has won 56 percent of his fights by knockout.
Mike Malott Betting Preview
Malott has won each of his last 5 fights and is coming off a February win over Yohan Lainesse. Malott is averaging 4.49 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy percentage of 41 percent. Malott is averaging 1.91 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 42 percent. Malott is coming off a submission win at UFC Fight Night 220 that earned performance of the night. In the victory, Malott landed 20 total strikes, produced 1 takedown and ate 1 total strike. Malott is now 3-0 under the UFC banner, and all 3 victories have been finishes. Malott is a black belt in BJJ and has 5 career submissions, two via the armbar. However, Malott is a polished striker with legit boxing talent and serious pop. Malott pushes the issue on the feet and can end things with one strike. At 31 years old, Malott has the ability to climb the rankings rather quickly. This will be Malott’s seventh career fight in Canada, his birth country.
Adam Fugitt Betting Preview
Fugitt has won 5 of his last 6 fights and is coming off a February win over Yusaku Kinoshita. Fugitt is averaging 5.40 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy percentage of 58 percent. Fugitt is averaging 4.76 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 33 percent. Fugitt is coming off a knockout win at UFC Fight Night 218 where he landed 33 total strikes and produced 4 takedowns. Fugitt is 1-1 under the UFC banner, and each of his last 3 victories have been knockouts. Fugitt has produced finishes in each of his last 7 wins overall. The knockouts would suggest Fugitt can hold his own standing up, but he’s a wrestler at heart and does a great job of closing the distance and getting the fight where he wants it. Once on the ground, Fugitt has a solid ground and pound and 3 career submissions, with 2 of those coming by the rear-naked choke. This will be Fugitt’s first time fighting outside of the United States.
H2H History
There's no fight history between these 2 fighters.
Randy’s Free Pick
Fugitt has the aggressiveness and the size advantage to make this a fight. He’s been accurate with his strikes, successful with his takedowns, and has a 4-inch reach advantage. With all that said, Fugitt is still a work in progress on the feet, and he’s a little too wet behind the ears to trust in these spots. Malott is the more poised fighter, and you can argue is more polished in wherever this fight goes. Malott is somebody who can push the rest of this division with his balanced attack. Malott will also be the crowd favorite, which never hurts.
Give me Malott to win inside distance.
