UFC fighters touch down in Vancouver for first Canadian event in years

Along with honing his striking and submission skills for the last few months, Ontario-born Mike Malott has taken the time to visualize the moment he steps into the cage at Rogers Arena on Saturday.

"I put a lot of time into this," he told media in a crowded room on Wednesday. "Visualizing what I think it's going to be like, what it's going to feel like, what it's going to sound like, what the air is going to feel like, what my skin's going to feel like.

"Once I get into the cage, that's when I just start feeling peace, that's when I feel calm," he added.

It's a serenity that's carried him through his nine professional mixed martial arts victories and earned him a marquee billing at UFC 289 — the fight promotion company's first Canadian event in more than four years.

Malott is among five Canadians featured on the Vancouver fight card, including Quebec's Marc-Andre Barriault and Aiemann Zahabi, and Ontario's Jasmine Jasudavicius and Kyle Neson.

"I'm just excited we're back in Canada, man," he said. "It's been years, this has been a dream of mine my entire fight career. Since before I got to fight professionally, I've always wanted to fight in the UFC at home in Canada, in front of wild Canadian fans."

The event is headlined by a women's bantamweight championship fight between the defending Amanda Nunes and her challenger Irene Aldana.

While no fighters from B.C. are competing on the Vancouver card, Malott's opponent Adam Fugitt argues he has closer ties to the region than the Canadian.

Fugitt, who is from Portland, said he doesn't feel like he's the villain.

"I've fought up here a couple of times in my amateur days," he said. "I'm from the Pacific Northwest."

He said if he does draw the ire of fans while walking to the