*This content was translated by AI.View Original
"Nobody knows you. In the end, fighting is about hurting your opponent."
Though facing Mike Malott (34, Canada) on foreign soil, Waqin Burke (32, USA) launched an unreserved provocation, sending a warning message to Canadian fans.
UFC announced that at the weigh-in held at a hotel in Edmonton, Canada, on the 17th (Korean time), both UFC welterweight (77.1 kg) ranked No. 10 "New Mansa" Waqin Burke and "Proper" Mike Malott passed the scale at 77.3 kg.
The two fighters will collide in the main event of 'UFC Fight Night: Burke vs. Malott,' to be held on the 18th at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
At the weigh-in event, seemingly mindful of boos from some Canadian fans, Burke pointed at someone in the audience and provoked them by gesturing with his finger for them to come forward. During the face-off, a tense exchange continued between Burke and Malott. Standing opposite Burke in the center of the stage, Malott first extended his hand for a handshake. However, Burke merely glared at Malott without accepting it. In response, Malott clapped his hands while holding up the Canadian flag high, staring down Burke.
In the subsequent interview, Malott shared his thoughts, saying, "I am ready to show my best performance of my life, and I could not be happier to do so in front of a Canadian home crowd." Burke, with a stoic expression, warned the home fans by saying, "Get ready, Canada."
The tension between the two fighters escalated at the media day on the 15th. Malott had wanted Burke as an opponent to enter the top 10, and the fight was made. In response, Burke shot back at Malott, saying, "Because nobody knows you, I want to fight you so people can get to know you," and declared, "It is unimaginable for Malott to hold a main event in Canada without me, so this show belongs to me."
Malott countered, stating, "I have a solid reputation in Canada. (While) it is fortunate that I am fighting a highly regarded fighter like Burke, I have held main events in Canada even without him." He then asserted, "On the other hand, it is unimaginable for Burke to hold a main event in Canada without me, so this is my show."
Waqin Burke (21 wins, 8 losses) is a striker boasting powerful striking. Of his 21 wins, 15 are by KO, and he has no submission victories. He boasts a finish rate of 71%. In contrast, Mike Malott (14 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses) is a well-rounded fighter who holds a jiu-jitsu black belt and combines striking with grappling. Of his 14 wins, six are by KO and six are by submission. His finish rate is 86%.
Burke predicted a KO in this fight as well. He emphasized, "Given my style, I always step into the Octagon with the intention of finishing my opponent," adding, "In the end, fighting is about hurting your opponent." Malott indicated that he would not specifically bring out a grappling strategy against striker Burke. He said, "As always, (rather than focusing on the opponent) I focus on what I do well. It is important to sharpen my weapons, and I do not try to fight like a scripted play."
Yoo Su-young (30), known as "Jiu-jitsu," who opens this event, engaged in a heated exchange with Cody Cobaneck (28, Canada), dubbed "MMA's Best Angler," at the weigh-in event.
Both Yoo Su-young and Cobaneck passed the bantamweight (61.2 kg) weigh-in at 61.5 kg. Yoo Su-young, who appeared at the weigh-in wearing sunglasses with red lenses, stepped onto the scale and roared. Cody Cobaneck, who appeared wearing a headband with the Canadian flag on his forehead, received enthusiastic cheers from home fans.
Just as it seemed they would have a warm face-off while shaking hands, Yoo Su-young started a tense exchange by pushing his forehead forward. Cobaneck did not back down and pushed his forehead forward in response. Dana White, UFC president, stepped in between the two fighters to create distance, and security personnel separated them.
Jiu-jitsu black belt Yoo Su-young (16 wins, 4 losses, 2 no contests) declared before the fight, "I want to dominate my opponent in every area, including striking and grappling." Striker Cody Cobaneck (9 wins) boldly stated, "I am confident that I will KO Yoo Su-young this weekend."
The 'UFC Fight Night: Burke vs. Malott,' featuring Yoo Su-young, will be broadcast live on tvN SPORTS and TVING starting at 6 a.m. on Sunday, October 18.
■ UFC Fight Night: Burke vs. Malott Card
△ Main Card (tvN SPORTS/TVING 9 a.m.)
[Welterweight] No. 10 Waqin Burke (170.5) vs. No. 13 Mike Malott (170.5)
[Women's Flyweight] No. 4 Erin Blanchfield (125) vs. No. 6 Jasmine Jasdaivicius (124.5)
[Lightweight] Kyle Nelson (155.5) vs. Christian Perez (154.5)
[Middleweight] Marc-Andre Bariole (185) vs. Kyle Dukes (186)
[Bantamweight] Louis Jourdain (135.5) vs. Timi Kumba (136)
[Lightweight] Mandel Nallo (155.5) vs. Nate Landwehr (155)
△ Undercard (tvN SPORTS/TVING 6 a.m.)
[Heavyweight] Tanner Boser (247.5) vs. Jonathan Genis (251.5)
[Middleweight] Julien Leblanc (185) vs. Nick Gallanti (185.5)
[Heavyweight] Zavad Mahzoub (252.5) vs. Joel Pagliaro (261)
[Women's Flyweight] Caitlin Sumnera (125) vs. McKenzie Steeler (124)
[Bantamweight] Chad Heiliger (135) vs. Stephen Koslo (135)
[Women's Strawweight] No. 15 Mel Lisa Croden (136) vs. Chelsea Chandler (135.5)
[Bantamweight] Cody Cobaneck (135.5) vs. Yoo Su-young (135.5)
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*This content was translated by AI.View Original
