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UFC analyst: Mike Malott 'fumbled the bag' at UFC Winnipeg
TL;DR
Mike Malott achieved a significant victory over Gilbert Burns at UFC Fight Night 273 but faced criticism for not calling out potential opponents afterward. Analyst Din Thomas believes Malott missed a key opportunity to capitalize on his win.
Key points
- Mike Malott won against Gilbert Burns at UFC Fight Night 273
- Malott did not call out any opponents post-fight
- Analyst Din Thomas criticized Malott for missing an opportunity
Mentioned in this story
Winnipeg
Mike MalottGilbert BurnsUFC Fight Night 273
In his first UFC main event, Mike Malott dispatched a former UFC title challenger with no major issues. Yet, despite the big win, many are saying he didn't do enough at UFC Fight Night 273.
Malott (14-2-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC), a rising UFC welterweight, stopped veteran Gilbert Burns in a third-round TKO at Saturday's UFC event in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It was by far the biggest win of his career. With the MMA world watching the culmination of the weekend's UFC event, commentator Paul Felder asked Malott in his in-octagon post-fight interview who he'd like next, which Malott didn't have an answer for.
"I'm not the guy to call people out – you know me, man," Malott said. "I try to do it the proper way. I'm just trying to get better every time and pursue growth and greatness, and I feel like I did a pretty good job at that."
UFC official broadcast analyst Din Thomas thought this was a missed opportunity, and called it out on Monday's "Deep Waters."
"He fumbled the bag," Thomas said. "He fumbled the bag in inserting himself in the conversation of becoming a big star. ... He had a great performance, but you've got to do better than that."
Thomas, along with many others in the MMA community, thought Malott missed out on a big opportunity to make a further impact in the stacked 170-pound division.
"He got a finish, and he's going to move forward, but then, if not many people are excited about you, you can't complain if you don't get the opportunities," Thomas said. "You can be yourself, you can stick to your guns and be a gentleman, and be that guy, but also don't complain if you don't get the opportunities."
All in all, Thomas thought Malott's fighting was on point. Although Burns, who retired that night, was not in his best career moment, Malott did finish an experienced fighter who's been fighting nothing but the very best in the division.
"Let's give him his props," Thomas said. "He styled on Gilbert Burns and had a great performance against Gilbert. He did his thing."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC analyst: Mike Malott 'fumbled the bag' at UFC Winnipeg
Q&A
What did Mike Malott achieve at UFC Fight Night 273?
Mike Malott secured a third-round TKO victory over veteran Gilbert Burns, marking the biggest win of his career.
Why did analysts criticize Mike Malott after his fight?
Analysts criticized Malott for not calling out potential opponents during his post-fight interview, which was seen as a missed opportunity to elevate his career.
Who is Din Thomas and what did he say about Mike Malott?
Din Thomas is a UFC official broadcast analyst who commented that Mike Malott 'fumbled the bag' by not seizing the moment to call out future opponents after his victory.
