“… And his brother is a UFC fighter!” boomed the announcer as Mike Malott’s younger brother Jeff, a forward for the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, dropped the gloves against Colorado’s Josh Manson after the Avalanche defensemen delivered a crushing check to one of his teammates.
“He’s a big, strong kid; I would not want to have to fight him on skates, man,” the elder Malott said of his younger brother, pride resonating in his voice. “He’s earning that spot, that’s for sure. Six-four, 215 — kid’s using every pound of it.”
Jeff’s ascension to NHL regular has coincided with his older brother’s rise through the UFC welterweight ranks, and his tussle with Manson came 10 days before Mike makes his return to the Octagon this weekend in Vancouver where he faces off with Kevin Holland in the penultimate bout on Saturday’s Fight Night event at Rogers Arena.