Mike Malott knocks out Joaquin Buckley with knee and follow-up right hand

Body kicks mark the opening exchanges

Joaquin Buckley opened southpaw against the orthodox Mike Malott in their main event at Rogers Place in Edmonton. Both fighters launched lunging punching combinations during a measured opening to the scheduled five-round welterweight bout.

Malott began his offense with a body kick, then landed a one-two and an inside leg kick. As the first round continued, he kept landing kicks to the body, while Buckley answered with inside leg kicks.

Buckley connects with a right hook

Buckley blocked a kick and countered Malott, then blocked a subsequent high kick. A right hook from Buckley knocked Malott off balance, and Malott circled away with Buckley following him.

MMA Fighting gave Buckley the opening round, 10-9. That assessment was the publication’s round score and did not represent an official judge’s scorecard.

Malott turns the clinch against the fence

In Round 2, Buckley advanced behind punches and initiated a clinch. Malott reversed their position against the fence and landed knees to Buckley’s body during the exchange.

Buckley obtained double underhooks, but Malott maintained head position and continued landing knees. Buckley also landed a knee during the hand fighting before Malott recovered his grips and answered. Buckley then escaped the clinch.

A knee and right hand end the fight

After they separated, Malott countered Buckley with a right hand. His decisive knee then dropped Buckley and dislodged his mouthpiece; a follow-up right hand completed the knockout.

The finish came at 2:32 of the second round, giving Malott the victory before the bout reached its scheduled five-round distance.

Malott extended his winning streak to five, with finishes in three of those victories. Buckley suffered his third consecutive defeat.