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DWCS 42 winner Mike Malott 'felt at home' fighting in UFC Apex

LAS VEGAS – In the biggest spot of his career, Mike Malott was just going through the motions.

Having already cornered a number of his Team Alpha Male teammates at the UFC Apex, everything was familiar for Malott (7-1-1) when he made the walk for his featured bout Tuesday at Dana White’s Contender Series 42.

His comfort was evident as the Canadian welterweight needed just 39 seconds to choke out Shimon Smotritsky and punch his ticket to the UFC.

“I felt really comfortable in this room,” Malott said during the DWCS 42 post-fight news conference. “I’ve been in this building to work like a dozen times or so, coaching other guys, being here for other guys’ fights. I felt comfortable in this room. I know what the drive is like. I’ve stayed in that hotel.  I’m pretty sure I’ve stayed in that same room before. I’ve been at that hotel, I’ve been to the grocery store we’re gonna go to, I was like, ‘All right, yeah, this is how you do it after training for three months and working your ass off, you do this exact thing.’ It’s not like overwhelming, new feelings again and again. I felt really at home.”

To see the full interview with Malott, check out the video above.

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