Canadian Fighters Dominate UFC Fight Night Vancouver with 5 Wins!

UPDATE: Canadian mixed martial artists showcased their skills at UFC Fight Night on October 18, 2023, in Vancouver, delivering an impressive 5-2 record. This follows their recent 5-0 performance at UFC 289 earlier this year, solidifying Canada as a powerhouse in the octagon.

The spotlight shone on Mike Malott, who claimed a unanimous decision victory over American fighter Kevin Holland with scores of 29-28 from all judges. The match, however, was not without controversy as Malott landed a low blow in the first round, leading to a five-minute recovery period for Holland. Despite initial concerns about Holland’s ability to continue, he returned to the fight but struggled, ultimately losing the subsequent rounds to Malott.

“It was a bit of an odd fight,” Malott said. “I swear my knee hit him in the hip, and my shin brushed his cup.”

This win brings Malott’s record to 13-2-1, likely propelling him into the top-15 ranking in the welterweight division. Another standout performance came from Charles Jourdain of Quebec, who defeated England’s Davey Grant with a spectacular first-round finish, courtesy of a guillotine choke after a flurry of strikes. Jourdain’s record improves to 17-8-1, marking his second consecutive victory.

“I just have the best guillotine in the game,” Jourdain declared. “Now I fight for something bigger than myself since my son came into this world.”

In a thrilling split decision, Quebec’s Aiemann Zahabi edged out Ecuador’s Marlon Vera with scores of 29-28 from two judges. Zahabi expressed his elation, stating, “I feel ecstatic. I gave the fans another war.”

However, not all Canadian fighters found success. Jasmine Jasudavicius suffered a significant setback, losing via TKO to France’s Manon Fiorot just 1:14 into the first round. Ranked fifth in the flyweight division, Jasudavicius’s defeat halts her five-fight win streak and complicates her title aspirations.

Other notable results included Kyle Nelson securing a unanimous decision win over Matt Frevola, despite a puzzling referee decision during the bout. Additionally, Calgary’s Melissa Croden won via TKO in the third round, while Drew Dober defeated Ontario’s Kyle Prepolec with a third-round TKO.

The main event concluded with Brendan Allen defeating Reinier De Ridder, who could not continue into the fourth round. Allen claimed he deserves a higher ranking after this victory, humorously noting, “For some reason, they don’t like me so I’ll probably be sixth or seventh.”

Overall, the event drew a crowd of 17,671 fans, generating a gate of $2.7 million. The fight between Dober and Prepolec was awarded Fight of the Night, while bonuses were given to Jourdain and Aoriqileng for their outstanding performances.

As UFC continues to gain momentum in Canada, fans eagerly anticipate future events and the rising stars from this vibrant mixed martial arts community.