Charles Radtke Vows Revenge Against Mike Malott After Anthem Controversy at UFC 315

Yahoo

08-05-2025

Fight week buzz is heating up ahead of UFC 315, and while the main card is packed with competitive matchups, it's the undercard that just took a dramatic turn. With tensions already high, one rising welterweight is heading into his bout with more than just a win on the line—he's looking for retribution. What was once just another preliminary scrap is now charged with emotion and controversy, setting the stage for a heated showdown this weekend.
Charles Radtke recently made waves with a string of comments that struck a nerve with fans north of the border. The interview, which was shared by MMAFightingOnSBN, featured Radtke being asked directly how he felt about the 20,000 Canadian fans who are expected to boo him at UFC 315. The reporter referenced an earlier hockey game this year in which Canada defeated the United States, further highlighting the brewing national tension. Radtke fired off a passionate response: 'So, I don't give a f*** about hockey, right? That's not my gig. But what I do hold dear is—I grew up on a bison ranch with my grandfather who's a sergeant major in the Marine Corps.' He continued, 'And when y'all boo the national anthem, somebody's going to have to pay for that.' So inevitably, I take that to heart because every year I would change 50 flags going up our driveway. So yeah, you're going to see the results of it.'
This stems from an incident in February 2025, when the U.S. national anthem was booed by Canadian fans during the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal. That reaction clearly left a mark on Radtke, who now sees Saturday's fight as an opportunity for symbolic payback.
UFC Middleweight Champion Chris WeidmanGetty Images
Radtke will face Canadian Mike Malott in what promises to be a charged welterweight bout. Radtke enters the cage with just one loss in the UFC—a defeat to Carlos Prates—but rebounded impressively with a first-round knockout against Matthew Semelsberger. Malott finds himself in a similar position. After suffering a loss to veteran Neil Magny, he responded with a dominant unanimous decision win over Trevin Giles.
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Now, with national pride in the air and emotions running high, this UFC 315 undercard battle carries more than just rankings—it carries a message.
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