Joaquin Buckley has been calling for a calling for a big name for a long time and on Saturday night, he gets just that, when he faces Vincente Luque in the co main event.
The two will meet at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City in a contest that could have some implications for the Welterweight rankings, with Buckley looking to take Luque’s number 11 spot.
Addressing the media ahead of the bout, Buckley appeared to be extremely happy with the situation and the opportunity to potentially break into the rankings. He said:
“It's something I've been asking for and shouting about, you know, via social media for a long time to get that big name, to get somebody that I feel like is going to really get the respect that it deserves with all the work I’ve been putting in. So now that I'm getting the fight that I ask for, it's a beautiful situation.”
Having been looking for an opponent of notable stature at 170lbs for some time, entering the bout, Buckley is delighted to have finally found someone – and grateful to Luque for signing up to it.
“I'm just appreciative of Vincete Luque actually taking on the challenge because at the end of the day, you know, no matter if I want a fight or the UFC want to book it, the opponent of mine has to take the fight and I'm just appreciative of Vicente Luque taking this fight.”
Previewing the contest, and his opponent, ‘New Mansa’ feels prepared for any version of Luque that will be standing across the came from him on Saturday night – whether that be the aggressive fashion ‘The Silent Assassin’ built his career on, or a calm and collected Luque.
“It all depends, but I know that Vicente, back in the day, you know how he fights. He's always a pressure fighter. He's going to walk you down, you know, hard pressure.
“He's going to take shots to give you one of his. But with the RDA fight, you know, he came in a little different. He was a little bit more tentative. He was on the back foot. So depending on what Luque comes in. I'm going to be more than prepared.”
A win against Luque would see Buckley move into the rankings at Welterweight be a big stepping stone in his pursuit of the 170lbs title.
“Not only do I know I am going to do what I do but the biggest thing is I know what position it is going to put me in. And when it comes to, you know, just the status of the UFC and me now getting this ranking and like I said, I've been put on route to become a world champion.”
Buckley became an extremely recognizable name after just his second UFC bout, in which he landed a viral spinning back kick against Impa Kasanganay. Although having competed 9 times in the octagon since, whenever the 29-year-old has a fight scheduled, the knockout can be found all over social media once more. As nice as it is for Buckley to have that moment, he feels his journey started when he dropped to Welterweight. He said:
“It wouldn't be me getting tired of seeing it, I tell you that. But you know, that kick is, you know, a beautiful situation for me because that's where it started to spark. But I believe that with me, you know, transitioning my career at 170, you know, that's my story now. And that kick, you know, it really doesn't bring any joy or anything to me because that's not my story, quote unquote.
“You know, my story is becoming a world champion in the UFC. You know, Impa was able to create a create a great career after that, you know, kick for himself, you know, wining the PFL title and you know, becoming a world champion and winning $1,000,000. But I feel like my story my story starts right here. 170.”
