MMA News

Tag: Joaquin Buckley

  • 41-Year-Old Stephen Thompson Dismisses ‘Old Guy’ Label’ Ahead Of UFC 307

    Veteran UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson doesn’t feel his age, something he’ll look to prove when he returns to the cage.

    Thompson, a former two-time title challenger at 170 pounds, turned 41 this year. Nevertheless, he still occupies a spot inside the division’s top 10, which he’ll hope to defend in Salt Lake City early next month.

    At UFC 307 on October 5, “Wonderboy” will feature on the deep card opposite the rising Joaquin Buckley. Following four straight wins since dropping to welterweight, “New Mansa” is looking to climb into contention at the expense of Thompson.

    But despite the high-ranked Shavkat Rakhmonov achieving that feat against him last time out, the striking specialist plans on turning Buckley away from the top 10 to show that he’s got plenty left in the tank.

    Stephen Thompson: ‘I Feel Like I’m 25!’

    During a recent interview with InsideFighting, Thompson looked ahead to his second assignment of 2024 as he looks to return to winning ways and reignite his hopes of a late-career title shot.

    “Wonderboy” explained his willingness to give rising names in the division the chance to climb against him and branded his clash with Buckley a “test” for where he is at in his career.

    Pre-fight, Thompson still feels in his prime years.

    “I’m still one of the top guys who gives those guys who are coming up a chance. There’s a lot of guys at the top, especially in the welterweight division, that are trying to hold on to their spot as long as they can,” Thompson said. “But I was given the opportunity when I was coming up. … I want to give that back to these guys that are up-and-coming who want to try and take that spot.

    “For me, it’s my test. It’s my test to see if I’ve still got it against these young bucks,” Thompson continued. “Everybody’s looking at me as the old guy. I’m 41, I’ll be 42 in February, but I feel like I’m 25. I’m just as fast and I’m getting better. I don’t mind stepping out and giving these guys that are up-and-coming the chance to prove themselves.”

    Whether or not the feelings of a 25-year-old will translate in the Octagon on Oct. 5 remains to be seen.

    Looking to ensure it doesn’t is a Buckley who has had a stellar year thus far, knocking out Vicente Luque and outpointing Nursulton Ruziboev to established himself at #11 in the welterweight pecking order.

  • Kevin Holland Open To ‘Whooping’ Joaquin Buckley Again After UFC 302: ‘Keeps Running His Mouth’

    Following his return to the winner’s circle at UFC 302, Kevin Holland named Joaquin Buckley as one option for his next fight.

    Holland entered this past weekend’s pay-per-view event at Newark’s Prudential Center on a losing skid, having dropped consecutive decisions to Jack Della Maddalena and Michael “Venom” Page down at 170 pounds.

    But “Trailblazer” bounced back in style when making a short-notice return to middleweight on June 1, submitting Michał Oleksiejczuk in the first round by way of a brutal armbar.

    Given his usual high level of activity, Holland is unsurprisingly looking to get back into the cage again soon enough. 

    And while open to whatever the UFC should slide across his table, the 31-year-old Texan does have one potential fight in mind…

    Holland Open To Keeping ‘Kid’ Buckley ‘In Line’

    During a backstage interview with Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter in Newark, Holland reflected on his successful performance in “Brick City” on Saturday night and looked ahead to what could await him down the line.

    After noting a willingness to do battle at either welterweight or middleweight, “Big Mouth” threw out the name of Joaquin Buckley as a possible opponent option post-UFC 302.

    “Whatever the UFC wants me to do. I’m pretty sure there’s somebody that needs their ass whooped,” Holland said. “Joaquin Buckley keeps running his mouth. Maybe I have to go whoop him. That is my son. You know, you gotta always keep your kids in line.”

    Holland and Buckley previously collided at the Apex back in 2020, where the former recorded a knockout 32 seconds into the third and final round. The result was the second on a record run of five straight wins in that calendar year for “Trailblazer.”

    Buckley subsequently rose to prominence by delivering an all-time great knockout against Impa Kasanganay. After his progress at 185 pounds stalled, “New Mansa” now finds himself ranked at welterweight following victories over Vicente Luque and Nursulton Ruziboev in 2024.

  • Dale Brown Says Other UFC Fighters Have Reached Out For Cornering

    Detroit Urban Survival Commander, Dale Brown surprised everyone when he was in Joaquin Buckley’s corner.

    Brown was considered a joke to many on social media for his defense techniques, but Buckely wanted to see it first-hand. After going to Brown and working with him, he began gaining respect for him and ended up having him in his corner for his UFC Vegas 48 fight against Abdul Razak Alhassan.

    Buckley ended up winning the fight by split decision and Brown says the KO artists used some of his techniques in the scrap.

    “I will say he did use some techniques that are associated with my training,” Brown said to TMZ Sports.

    With Dale Brown now being 1-0 as a cornerman, he says other UFC fighters have reached out about him training them.

    “We’ve had several just the past couple of days reaching out, emailing, texting, trying to reach out and see if they can come by the facility and see what we can do to coordinate and collaborate,” Brown said.

    However, even though several UFC fighters have reached out to him, Brown says he will only work with Buckley, as he is loyal to him.

    “We’re #teamBuckley so that’s not gonna happen,” Brown said.

    With Buckley beating Alhassan with Brown in his corner, he improved to 14-4 as a pro and is riding a two-fight winning streak. He’s also 4-2 inside the Octagon. But with him getting the win, perhaps he goes back to the D.U.S.T. commander next time out. As the old saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and Buckley had success against Alhassan so perhaps he runs back his exact same corner for his next fight.

    What do you make of Dale Brown saying other UFC fighters have reached out to train him?