UFC Edmonton delivered a big moment for Canadian MMA, with Mike Malott knocking out Joaquin Buckley in the main event and Jasmine Jasudavicius winning over Erin Blanchfield. Saturday’s card gave the UFC plenty of options going forward.
Here are five fights I want to book after UFC Edmonton:
Mike Malott vs. Sean Brady
Malott picked up the biggest win of his career, defeating a ranked opponent in Buckley and sending the Edmonton crowd home happy. The Canadian has put together an impressive run, but the next step should be a tough test against someone near the top of the heavyweight division.
Sean Brady makes a lot of sense. The grappler from Philadelphia has the resume to challenge Malott in areas that Buckley cannot, and this matchup will tell us if Malott is ready to make a real run at the division’s elite. Malott earned a spot, and Brady would give him exactly that.
Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Zhang Wei
April 18, 2026; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CANADA; Jasmine Jasudavicius (red gloves) celebrates after her fight against Karine Silva (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at the Canada Life Centre. Mandatory credit: Bruce Fedyck-Imagn Images Jasudavicius scored one of the biggest wins of his UFC career by outpointing Blanchfield over three rounds. Defeating a top contender like Blanchfield puts the Canadian in a stronger position, and now the UFC needs to realize just how close he is to a title shot.
Zhang Weili would be the next contender, but that’s what makes him interesting. Jasudavicius has the size, pressure and tackling to make life difficult for anyone in the division. A matchup against an elite former champion will mark whether Saturday’s performance is a breakthrough or the start of a legitimate title run.
Cristian Perez vs. Mike Davis
Perez couldn’t have asked for a better UFC debut. The newcomer needed just 27 seconds to knock out Kyle Nelson, announcing himself in spectacular fashion and giving the promotion a new feather to watch.
Mike Davis would be a good next test. The veteran has experience against quality opposition and could help determine if Perez is ready to move up the ranks or if he still needs time to develop. After a debut like that, the UFC should give Perez a chance to get up to speed without rushing him directly into the division’s top names.
Marc-André Barriault vs. Cody Brundage
June 14, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America; Mansoor Abdul-Malik (red gloves) fights Cody Brundage (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at State Farm Arena. Mandatory credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Barriault was in desperate need of a win and he delivered in front of his home country crowd. After early success with his Kyle Daukaus fight, Barriault turned the fight around and finished him off with a flurry of strikes in the second round.
Cody Brundage feels like a reasonable next matchup. Both welterweights have inconsistent moves and need wins to establish some stability. Barriault has shown he can be dangerous when he gets going, and another win would give him a chance to gain some momentum rather than facing another challenger right away.
Mandel Nallo v. Jai Herbert
Nallo made an immediate impression on the UFC main card, stopping Nate Landwehr by TKO in the second round. The Canadian featherweight brought an aggression that had fans invested, and his performance showed he could be an entertaining addition to the division.
Jai Herbert will be an interesting next opponent. Herbert Matheus is coming off a decision win over Camilo and both lightweights have something to gain from what could be a surprising fight. Nallo is gaining momentum after his UFC debut, while Herbert remains a tough veteran for up-and-coming fighters to push past. This is a good opportunity for the UFC to see who is ready to take the next step.