UFC Edmonton: Five Fights to Book Next, Including Mike Malott vs. Sean Brady

UFC Edmonton delivered a huge moment for Canadian MMA, with Mike Malott knocking out Joaquin Buckley in the main event and Jasmine Jasudavicius picking up a statement win over Erin Blanchfield. From breakout performances to veterans keeping their jobs with big wins, Saturday’s card gave the UFC plenty of options for what comes next.

Here are five fights I’d like to see booked after UFC Edmonton:

Mike Malott vs. Sean Brady

Malott just delivered the biggest win of his career, knocking out a ranked opponent in Buckley and sending the Edmonton crowd home happy. The Canadian has put together an impressive run, but the next step needs to be a serious test against someone near the top of the welterweight division.

Sean Brady makes a lot of sense. The Philadelphia-based grappler has the résumé to challenge Malott in areas Buckley couldn’t, and this matchup would tell us whether Malott is ready to make a real run at the division’s elite. Malott has earned a step up, and Brady would give him exactly that.

Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Zhang Weili

Jasudavicius earned one of the biggest wins of her UFC career by outworking Blanchfield over three rounds. Beating a top contender like Blanchfield puts the Canadian in a much stronger position, and now the UFC needs to figure out how close she is to a title opportunity.

Zhang Weili would be an ambitious next opponent, but that’s what makes it interesting. Jasudavicius has the size, pressure and grappling to make life difficult for anyone in the division. A matchup with an elite former champion would show whether Saturday’s performance was a breakthrough or the beginning 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 featherweight to watch.

Mike Davis would be a good next test. The veteran has experience against quality opposition and could help determine whether Perez is ready to climb the rankings or still needs time to develop. After a debut like that, the UFC should give Perez a chance to build momentum without rushing him straight into the division’s top names.

Marc-André Barriault vs. Cody Brundage

Barriault badly needed a win, and he delivered in front of his home-country crowd. After Kyle Daukaus found early success with his grappling, Barriault turned the fight around and finished him with a barrage of strikes in the second round.

Cody Brundage feels like a reasonable next matchup. Both middleweights have had inconsistent stretches and need wins to establish some stability. Barriault has shown he can be dangerous when he gets going, and another victory would give him a chance to build a little momentum rather than immediately facing another ranked opponent.

Mandel Nallo vs. Jai Herbert

Nallo made an immediate impression on the UFC main card, stopping Nate Landwehr with a second-round TKO. The Canadian lightweight brought the kind of aggression that gets fans invested, and his performance showed he could be a fun addition to the division.

Jai Herbert would be an interesting next opponent. Herbert is coming off a decision win over Matheus Camilo, and both lightweights have something to gain from a matchup that could turn into a striking battle. Nallo has momentum after his UFC debut, while Herbert remains a tricky veteran for rising fighters to get past. It’s a good opportunity for the UFC to see who is ready to take the next step.