Australia’s Jacob Malkoun is promising the most “violent” performance of his UFC career this Sunday before then embarking on a rugged summer training program aimed at reviving the Canterbury Bulldogs.
After being out of the Octagon for almost a year, largely because of injury, Malkoun now returns — and as the betting favourite — for his UFC fight Night showdown against America’s Cody Brundage in Las Vegas.
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Apart from having won three of his past four bouts inside the cage, Malkoun and head coach Alex Prates are also employed as wrestling coaches at Belmore.
While the Doggies may have struggled this year, the duo are among the most successful NRL wrasslin’ units ever assembled – having worked with Penrith during their consecutive premierships, and also at South Sydney in 2014.
The fight team, which also includes Australia’s first UFC champion Robert Whittaker, has also been working overtime for the past couple of months to prepare Malkoun for what has been three different opponents.
“Initially, I was down to fight a Dagestani wrestler but five weeks ago he withdrew,” Malkoun explains of his first rival, undefeated Aliaskhab Khizriev – aka ‘The Black Wolf’.
“Then the guy they got to replace him, two weeks back he also pulled out.
“So now it’s Cody.
“But the main thing is, the work has been done.
“Initially, you’re training for one guy — he is in your head the whole time — but then he’s gone and you start training for a new guy, then another new guy, so little things do change.
“But while my training may not have been specific (for Brundage), all the hard work won’t have gone to waste.”
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Pushed on the American, who has dropped his past three fights in the UFC, Malkoun continued: “He’s an explosive guy, throws good power shots, and wrestles well.
“Obviously he’s coming off a few loses but, man, it’s a fight and he will be coming in to take my head off.
“But I know I’m better than him, I just need to prove it.
“Because it’s all good to be better than somebody, but when you’re in there you have to go and show it.
“And in the UFC, I haven’t shown what I have yet.
“Everything I do in the gym, I have to bring that out.
“I know everyone is saying for him it will be do or die, fighting for the contract.
“And maybe that will change how he fights, he could go crazy.
“But I’m treating it like that, too.
“I’m going in there to smash this guy.
“To be more violent.
“My approach is that I’m fighting for my contract too.
“If I do that, I know what the result will be.”
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Malkoun also confirmed he and his team would be working with the Bulldogs again in 2024 if wanted by coach Cameron Ciraldo, who initially signed them to Penrith in 2022.
“It’s no secret the Bulldogs are rebuilding,” Malkoun said.
“And that there is a big job there.
“It’s a work in progress and Cameron is definitely working hard.
“He’s a great coach and the boys are getting better all the time.
“We’re loyal to Cameron and whatever he wants us to do, we do.”
Malkoun also predicted a quick turnaround in fortunes for his great mate and training partner Whittaker, who was upset last start – and lost a UFC middleweight title shot — against South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis.
“Rob’s back in the gym, working hard and looking for the next fight,” Malkoun said.
“He only had a week or two rest and was straight back into it.
“And he’s ready.
“Everyone has an off night at some point in their career.
“It’s a tricky sport we’re in.
“You build up for months doing all this training and then have just one night to go prove you’re the best.
“And Rob had a bad night. Didn’t look himself.
“But he won’t have a night like that again.”