Joaquin Buckley jumped at the chance to fight Vicente Luque on short notice. It seemed like he’d been gearing up for this moment for quite some time.
Suddenly, an ad pops up. Classic internet, right?
Buckley’s record stands at 17-6, and he’s gearing up to face Luque, who’s at 22-9, in what’s shaping up to be a nail-biter at UFC Atlantic City. This match is not just any fight; it’s the co-main event, folks.
He’s stoked, to say the least. “It feels good,” Buckley shared during the media day. He’s been vocal on social media, craving a big-name opponent. Now, he’s got it. “It’s a beautiful situation,” he added, unable to hide his excitement.
With just over a month to prepare, Buckley stepped in for Sean Brady, sidelined by an injury. Known as “New Mansa,” Buckley didn’t hesitate. He’d been eyeing a fight with Luque since December.
Originally, Luque was set to face Ian Garry at UFC 296. However, Garry had to bow out due to pneumonia. Buckley was on standby, ready to jump in for Garry or if any issues arose with the Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Stephen Thompson fight. That fight did happen, with Rakhmonov securing a win, but Buckley stayed ready.
“What’s short notice?” Buckley mused. He’d been preparing since December, eyeing potential matchups. When Garry had to withdraw, Buckley was ready to step in, though the call from UFC didn’t come immediately. “I was like, ‘Alright bet, let’s get it.’ But then, silence. No call from Sean Shelby or my management. But hey, stay ready, right?” And when the opportunity for March 30 came, Buckley was more than ready.
On the topic of facing Sean Brady in the future, Buckley didn’t mince words. “After I beat Vicente Luque the way I plan to, I doubt Sean Brady will want any part of this. But hey, we’ll see.”