UFC middleweight Joaquin Buckley may have just locked in ‘KO of the decade’ in arguably one of the best UFC finishes. The spectacular spinning back kick KO over top prospect, Impa Kasanganay unfolded on the preliminary card for UFC Fight Night. Following his emphatic performance, there’s almost no doubt that Buckley will receive main card appearances in the future.
The finish came early in the second round of the contest and was largely an exciting back-and-forth fight. Impa Kasanganay had caught the somewhat telegraphed kicks that were coming his way; however, this would also be his downfall. Joaquin Buckley pulled the trigger and executed a knockout that perhaps immediately topped the list for ‘KO of the Year’. Not to mention, a hefty bonus is sure to be heading his way.
Joaquin Buckley: Highlight-reel king
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‘New Mansa’ just put himself on the map in a massive way. He’s erased any doubt as to his stock in the company. Buckley was coming off a TKO loss in his UFC debut to Kevin Holland and his equity going into the Kasanganay fight was low. Moreover, it seems as though it was a motivator for the 11-3 fighter to be more explosive.
Following the victory, the man of the hour spoke to the media and shared his thoughts on the star-making performance. Buckley broke down his ‘kill or be killed’ mentality that has helped him climb up the ranks. He explained the thought process behind executing a technique that looked straight out of an action movie.
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“Yeah, I was conscious of it because he caught my foot the first time, you know what I mean. But I was just hesitant then to throw it. The second time I said why not? When I threw it I connected and I didn’t know I knocked him out until I’d seen his body go stiff. I was like ‘Yeah, that’s game over, that’s match’. “
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“I call it Wakanda style,” said Buckley, who is sure to be on every UFC highlight reel from here on out. With a single flashy maneuver, he has now gone out to be a household name, and lucrative opportunities await him. What did you make of the finish?
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