It would take nothing less than an iconic moment for a fighter in
the
Ultimate Fighting Championship to reserve an immutable berth in
the roundup of standout moments in the organization’s rich history.
Joaquin
Buckley did just that with a spinning back kick knockout of
Impa
Kasanganay. That victory went on to win the knockout of the
month in October 2020 and the knockout of the year, undeniably
occupying a shining spot among the best of the best. Since then,
“New Mansa” has managed to accumulate a muddled record. However,
the decision to return to the 170-pound bracket in 2023 yielded
positive results for him, and he has gained ground in the division
with a three-fight win streak. Buckley crashed the UFC 300 press
conference and grabbed the mic to shoot his shot to demand a main
event slot at the upcoming UFC on ESPN 56 card. His wish has been
partly granted as Buckley gears up to take on
Nursulton
Ruziboev on May 11 at the Enterprise Center, in St. Louis,
Missouri. Ahead of the clash, let’s take a look at some of the
rivalries that have shaped his journey so far.
Buckley was welcomed into the organization tackling the challenge
of
Kevin
Holland. He opted against a touch of gloves to start the fight
which set the tone for a competitive encounter. Holland managed to
score a takedown only for Buckley to return fire with a right hook
when they got back to their feet. It took some time for both the
combatants to settle into the bout, but when they did, it was
Buckley who loaded every strike with vicious malice while Holland
was content with volume striking. With over a minute left on the
clock in the first frame, Holland caught Buckley with a right cross
that dropped the St. Louis native. The second round advanced
similarly, with Buckley radically forceful on offense while Holland
calmly picked his shots. Just as the pace picked up in the third
frame, Holland stupefied Buckley with a laser-like right hand that
prompted referee
Mark Smith
to step in immediately. The official time of the finish was 0:32 of
Round 3.
Wright was an undefeated prospect, carrying a then-unblemished 11-0
record (1 NC) before crossing paths with Buckley. He imposed
aggression on Wright from the opening bell, nearly securing the
finish in the final moments of the first frame. However, Wright’s
fortitude prevailed, partly the reason why he survived to see the
second round. Subsequently, “New Mansa” hit the mark with heavy
blows in the opening moments of the second round to stop Wright in
a mere 18 seconds. With that, he improved his UFC record to 2-1 and
demolished his opponent’s unbeaten record.
Curtis and Buckley engaged in a fiery exchange at the UFC 282
ceremonial weigh-ins that dictated the temperament for both
fighters before suiting up for the impending clash. “The Action
Man” was trailing behind owing to Buckley’s dynamic striking.
Somewhere midway into the second round, he found a home for a sharp
left hand down the pipe that put Buckley on the deck. He followed
up with a barrage of punches, leading the fight to be waved off at
the 2:49 mark of the second round. That was Buckley’s second
consecutive loss, which prompted the decision to drop down to the
welterweight division.
The battle of explosive welterweights served as the co-main event
fixture of UFC on ESPN 54. In the opening round, both fighters
hunted for strategic openings. Buckley opted to fight outside
range, blitzing with strikes to dart in and penetrate Luque’s
nimble stance occupying the center of the Octagon. It remained an
evenly matched round and “New Mansa” boosted the vigor in the
following round. He initiated a series of flying attacks, landing a
well-placed knee, but it was the flurry of punches that ensued
which staggered Luque. The Brazilian decided to take matters to the
canvas. However, Buckley, wise to Luque’s advances, reversed the
position to unleash punishing ground strikes. He pounded out the
finish at the 3:17 mark of the third frame and walked away with one
of the biggest wins of his career.