UFC welterweight Mike Malott had a very successful night at UFC Fight Night 273 when he not only defeated Gilbert Burns via TKO, but he did it in front of his fellow countrymen and countrywomen as the event took place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. However, Malott was involved in a bizarre incident after the fight as he went to hoist the Canadian flag above his head in victory, only for the flag to be ripped out of his hands whilst sitting on top of the cage. 

UFC officials took Mike Malott’s Canadian flag during his post-fight celebration last night

Fighters can walk out with flags, but aren’t allowed to bring them into the Octagon since they block sponsors logos, per @dannyrubepic.twitter.com/ID5g2DYoAX

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) April 19, 2026

Malott was a recent guest on “The Ariel Helwani Show” where he was asked about this incident and if he knew why it happened, to which Malott had no idea. “When I was in Montreal, I went to go lift the flag and the, I don’t know if it was a commission guy or who it was, they’re like ‘Oh, you’re not allowed to have it in the octagon.’ So I said ‘Can I jump up on the side?’ He said ‘Yeah sure.’ So I jumped up and then I lifted the flag. So I skipped the first process and jumped up to go grab the flag and as I’m pulling up, he snatched it out of my hand, and he did it all s***** too where he like snatched it and like looked at me like this. I was like ‘Dude, what the hell man?’ Number one, don’t try and like be a tough guy to me, like I just fought right? And then number two, like I don’t understand what the rule is that I couldn’t have the flag. I walked out with it.”

Both Malott and Helwani speculated that it might have been something to do with sponsors not wanting to be covered up by flags when those businesses have paid for their logos to be printed somewhere on the cage. However, Helwani pointed out that Malott actually sat on the UFC Fight Pass logo, rendering that argument useless. Malott rounded off by saying that he spent eight weeks visualizing himself hoisting the flag again in his home country, and while he was annoyed by it, he admitted that it isn’t the end of the world.

Please credit “The Ariel Helwani Show” when using quotes from this article, and give a H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

At TNA Rebellion, Frankie Kazarian defeated Elijah. Now, the guitar-playing star has an opportunity to even the score in a match catered to his musical flair.

On this week’s edition of “Thursday Night iMPACT,” a man disguised as Elijah — cowboy hat, long hair, and all — emerged in the center of the ring with a guitar and a microphone. After taking verbal shots at Syracuse, New York, the man then claimed that he had a case of “the blues” due to his inability to beat Frankie Kazarian. To express his sadness, the man prepared to play a song titled “Kaz Is My Daddy,” but before he could, flickering lights revealed the real Elijah standing behind him.

The real Elijah proceeded to choke the man, unveiled as Kazarian himself, with a guitar strap. Equipped with his guitar, Elijah then delivered important news to a now-motionless Kazarian: they’d be fighting in a Walk With Elijah Guitar Strap match.

How does one win a Walk With Elijah Guitar Strap match? The action will begin backstage with both competitors linked via a guitar strap. With no disqualifications and no countouts, one must touch all four turnbuckles in the ring in succession, while still connected to the other, to earn the victory.

Before he and Kazarian battle in this unique stipulation, Elijah previewed it with a song dissing his foe. For the fans in attendance, it came with an added invitation to join Elijah at a local restaurant afterward. As of this writing, TNA has yet to confirm when exactly Kazarian and Elijah will meet for their musical match.

Welcome to Wrestling Inc.’s coverage of “TNA Thursday Night iMPACT” on April 23, 2026, coming to you from the Upstate Medical University at the Oncenter War Memorial in Syracuse, NY!

At Rebellion, Bear Bronson won the tag titles with Brian Meyers. Last week, he had a heated confrontation with Nic Nemeth. Nemeth told Bronson, he’d face him anytime, any place. That time is tonight.

Last week at WrestleCon, The Righteous confronted The Hardys. Tonight, Matt Hardy will go one-on-one with Dutch. Hardy posted a video to social media warning that it’s “almost broken season”.

During last week’s iMPACT, Mike Santana said he wanted to give out some opportunities and wanted to face someone who changed his life for the better: Rich Swann. Swann said he respects what Santana has done and knows title opportunities don’t come along often. He promised to give every ounce of fire he has when they face off tonight.

Also at Rebellion, Xia Brookside turned on Lei Ying Lee and cost her the Knockouts title. She’s been quiet since, but breaks her silence tonight. We’ll also hear from Elayna Black.

Last Thursday, Elijah attacked Frankie Kazarian backstage. After being held back by security, Kaz was able to flee. Tonight, Elijah will send a message via a special concert.