Mike Malott

Overview

Five straight wins, three of them against opponents our model rates as strong, and the last two came in UFC main events.

Mike Malott is a welterweight fighting out of Niagara Top Team. His UFC record is 8-1, with six finishes. The only loss came to Neil Magny by TKO in round three at UFC 297. Since then he has won five in a row, and he carries that streak into his next fight.

That's the arc: an early run of finishes, one setback against a strong opponent, then a climb into headline slots.

UFC Career

Malott's path to the UFC ran through Dana White's Contender Series, where he beat Shimon Smotritsky by submission in 39 seconds of round one. That fight sits outside the UFC record. His UFC debut came in April 2022 at UFC 273, where he stopped Mickey Gall in round one at 3:41.

Two submissions followed: Yohan Lainesse in round one and Adam Fugitt in round two. Three UFC fights, three finishes.

Then came Magny in January 2024, the one blemish. Malott was finished at 4:45 of the third round.

He answered with a unanimous decision over Trevin Giles, then needed 26 seconds to knock out Charles Radtke in round two at UFC 315. A unanimous decision over Kevin Holland was his first win over a strong opponent since the Magny loss.

The main events followed. He stopped Gilbert Burns in round three, then Joaquin Buckley in round two, both by KO/TKO against opponents our model tiers as strong.

One loss. Five wins since.

Fighting Style

Mike Malott is a busy striker who is hard to hit. He lands often, takes little in return, and finds the target at a better clip than most. His takedown defense is also strong, so opponents have a tough time dragging him to the mat.

On offense he is not a heavy wrestler or a submission hunter. His takedown attempts and submission tries sit around the UFC average, so grappling is a tool for him rather than a calling card.

The finishes show he can end fights in more than one way. Of his six UFC finishes, four are KO/TKOs and two are submissions. Two came in round one, three in round two and one in round three.

Notable Wins

• Joaquin Buckley — KO/TKO, round 2, UFC Fight Night: Buckley vs. Malott (2026)
• Gilbert Burns — KO/TKO, round 3, UFC Fight Night: Burns vs Malott (2026)
• Kevin Holland — unanimous decision, UFC Fight Night: de Ridder vs Allen (2025)
• Charles Radtke — KO/TKO, round 2, UFC 315 (2025)

Quick Facts

• Division: Welterweight
• UFC record: 8-1 (6 finishes)
• Professional record, all promotions: 15-2-1
• UFC debut: 2022
• Stance: Orthodox
• Height: 6'1", reach: 73"
• Team: Niagara Top Team
• Born: Cleveland, OH, United States