NHL star Jeff Malott, brother of UFC athlete Mike Malott, gets into an on-ice argument. Los Angeles Kings forward Jeff Malott stepped up to defend his teammate Warren Foegele after Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson delivered a crushing hit during the teams’ season opener on Oct. 7, 2025. The confrontation drew an immediate reaction from the Kings bench, with Malott dropping his gloves on Manson in what was one of the most high-profile moments of the evening.
NHL’s Jeff Malott drops gloves after taking a hit
The incident occurred late in the first period at the Crypto.com Arena, with 1:34 remaining on the clock. Manson stepped up near the neutral zone and leveled Foegele with a huge slam into the open ice, sending the Kings forward to the ice. Although the goal was deemed clean by officials, it prompted an immediate response from Malott, who stormed off the bench to confront the Colorado defender.
Malott and Manson engaged in a short but spirited fight, with both players trading punches before falling to the ice and being separated by referees. The altercation resulted in fighting majors for both players, with Malott receiving a further two-minute penalty for inciting the confrontation. The crowd at Crypto.com Arena responded enthusiastically to Malott’s willingness to stand up for his teammate, making him an instant fan favorite.
Jeff Malott, 29, is a 6-foot-1 left winger who made his NHL debut with the Winnipeg Jets in March 2022 after leaving Cornell University. The Burlington, Ontario native spent four seasons at Cornell, where he served as team captain during his senior year and recorded 53 points in 114 career games. Following his college career, Malott signed with the Jets organization in 2020 and developed several seasons in the American Hockey League with the Manitoba Moose before joining the Kings organization in 2024.
This season was an important milestone for Malott, who secured a place at a NHL on opening night for the first time in his career. The Kings’ coaching staff was impressed with his reaction to the hit on Foegele. Head coach Jim Hiller responded positively to Malott’s actions, saying he liked the reaction and that the team had no problem with a player standing up for his teammate.
Brother of UFC fighter Mike Malott
Malottis fighting spirit turns out to run in the family. His older brother Mike Malott is a prominent UFC welterweight fighter with a record of 12 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw. Mike Malott has established himself as a fan favorite in the UFC, earning two Performance of the Night bonuses and building a reputation for his finishing ability. The 33-year-old from Burlington, Ontario has won five of his six UFC fights, with his lone loss coming against veteran Neil Magny in January 2024.
Mike Malott will face Kevin Holland at UFC Fight Night 262 in Vancouver on October 18, 2025. The fight marks a significant step forward in competition for Mike as Holland is a ranked welterweight with extensive UFC experience.
The timing of Jeff’s NHL fight and Mike’s upcoming UFC fight has created additional attention for the Malott family name in combat sports circles. Social media posts following the hockey fight frequently referenced Mike’s UFC career, with commentators noting the family’s natural fighting instincts.
Jeff Malott’s performance in the season opener went beyond the fight incident. The next night against the Vegas Golden Knights, he scored his first career NHL goal, deflecting a shot past goaltender Adin Hill for a memorable milestone. The goal came from a rushing play that Malott helped set up, showing he could contribute both offensively and physically.
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