[quote=@LokiLeo789]
<Snipped quote by HeroicSociopath>

It's not the tier that matters in this case then, it's the skills that the characters possess in tow. And by all accounts, Mal outperforms. 
[/quote]

Ah, you are correct. For example, if a character with, I dunno, some sort of ability that grants them good reflexes goes up against an opponent with weapons skills of lower rank than that power, or none at all, the character with the reflexes would likely win.