"The last Canadian to headline a UFC event, prior to Mike Malott on Saturday, was Felica Spencer, who challenged Amanda Nunes for the now defunct UFC Women's Featherweight Championship at UFC 250 on June 6, 2020."
"MMA isn't a sport where nationality should really matter. I've long suggested that you don't need a big Canadian star to run events in Canada. Just bring a few big names, like adopted Canuck Max Holloway, and educated fans will be perfectly happy."
"The promotion, however, favours having Canadian talent topping Canadian cards, Brazilian talent topping Brazilian cards, British talent topping British cards, so on and so forth."
"Enter UFC Winnipeg, and Mike Malott. After putting together a 6-1 record through his first seven UFC bouts, the UFC decided it was time to give the unranked welterweight another chance."
UFC Winnipeg showcased a mix of challenges and triumphs for Team Canada, culminating in a strong finish. The event marked the return of Canadian fighters to main event status, with Mike Malott headlining after a long absence of Canadian talent in such roles. The UFC's preference for featuring local fighters on cards is evident, yet the success of events with international stars suggests that fan engagement can thrive without a homegrown headliner. The event highlighted the evolving landscape of MMA in Canada.
Read at Cageside Press
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