Following a distressing knockout defeat at UFC Edmonton, welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley plans to honor a commitment made to his grandmother.
Earlier in the month at UFC Edmonton, Buckley experienced a devastating knockout loss against Mike Malott, marking one of the year’s most terrifying finishes. Widely recognized as one of the UFC’s premier strike finishers, he has now dropped three consecutive bouts, having previously fallen to former 170-pound champion Kamaru Usman, Sean Brady, and most recently, Malott.
Even at age 32, Buckley remains at his athletic peak and retains the capability to turn things around in his upcoming appearance to snap this setback streak. Prior to making waves at welterweight, his stint at 185 pounds had its share of highs and lows, featured by sensational highlight-reel finishes and memorable performances.
Although still in the prime of his career, Buckley made major news on Thursday by revealing plans to retire from competition in order to keep his word to his grandmother.
Joaquin Buckley signals pending departure from MMA: ‘This is the final fight’
Taking to his official Instagram account in a newly published video clip, Buckley stated that his upcoming walk to the Octagon will mark his ultimate appearance as a professional fighter.
“That loss was extremely painful, and it deeply shook my family. Hearing my grandmother pray for my safety over the phone, seeing how genuinely heartbroken she was, and having her plead with me to step away from fighting altogether,” Buckley explained.
“Processing all of that was difficult. After taking time to reflect and think it through overnight, I came to realize she was correct. Knowing that, I asked her to keep praying for me and grant her blessing for me to enter the Octagon a final time, giving me the courage for one last walk.
“Ending my career on a defeat isn’t an option for me,” Buckley added. “Having logged 18 bouts inside the Octagon over six years, I’ve proven my work ethic. But I need to protect my health from further harm. This next fight is the finale, and we intend to make it our finest performance yet.”
At present, no date, venue, or opponent has been confirmed for Buckley’s swan song in the UFC. Over the course of his promotional run, he has accumulated an overall record of 11 wins and 7 losses.
Which memory stands out to you most from Joaquin Buckley’s time in the UFC? Drop your answers in the comment section below!
This report was originally published on BJPENN.COM
