Oct 23, 2026 · 2h 39m
Mike Malott maps a UFC title run amid hockey’s biggest debates
Spittin' Chiclets Episode 678: Featuring Mike Malott
The episode pairs a revealing account of Malott’s preparation and ambitions with a wide-ranging argument about NHL contenders, goaltending, and fan culture.
- 1Mike Malott details the weight cuts, coaching network, and mental preparation shaping his UFC welterweight title ambitions.
- 2The panel debates whether Buffalo should pursue Connor Hellebuyck and how much a franchise goaltender could change its trajectory.
- 3Ottawa’s hostility toward Brady Tkachuk’s return becomes a case study in how rivalry, spectacle, and fan creativity drive hockey culture.
Don't miss
Mike Malott gives a candid account of extreme weight cuts, fight preparation, and the mental work behind his UFC title ambitions.
The brief
Ottawa’s reception for Brady Tkachuk turns a Senators–Panthers game into a referendum on rivalry, fan creativity, and the Kachuk family’s talent for generating spectacle.
The hockey panel moves from Florida’s villain status to Columbus’s instability, Buffalo’s goaltending crisis, and the price of acquiring Connor Hellebuyck.
Mike Malott explains how extreme weight cuts, a coordinated coaching team, and mental training support his climb toward a UFC welterweight title shot.
Malott also connects fighting to family and Canadian identity, discussing Georges St-Pierre, his brother Jeff’s NHL path, and the fear behind elite competition.
R.A.’s World closes with debates over lifetime sports promotions, tributes to Ron Duguay and Norm Macdonald, and recommendations spanning comedy and film.
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