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Buckley vs. Cormier Feud Escalates after UFC Fight Night Victory
Joaquin Buckley’s co-main event victory at the recent UFC Fight Night event in St. Louis has ignited a war of words between him and Daniel Cormier. Buckley secured a decisive win over Nursulton Ruziboev, extending his winning streak to four fights. However, his ill-advised call-out of Conor McGregor post-fight was met with criticism from fans and experts alike.
Cormier, along with Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping, didn’t hold back in expressing their disdain for Buckley’s attempt at grabbing the spotlight. Buckley fired back, accusing them of misinterpreting his words, which stirred up more tension between the parties. Cormier, in particular, responded vehemently to Buckley’s remarks about their “mommas,” chastising him for his call-out blunder and emphasizing the need to listen.
While a theoretical matchup between Buckley and McGregor at 170 pounds may seem intriguing on paper, the reality remains that neither fighter has a substantial history or rivalry to justify the bout. McGregor’s imminent fight against Michael Chandler further diminishes the likelihood of such a clash happening in the near future. UFC President Dana White promptly dismissed the idea, reiterating that the promotion is not entertaining the prospect of a Buckley-McGregor showdown.
Strategic Matchups for Buckley in the Welterweight Division
In light of the McGregor matchup being off the table, Buckley would be better served targeting opponents like Michael “Venom” Page, Ian Machado Garry, Sean Brady, and Gilbert Burns. Buckley himself acknowledged the unlikeliness of securing a high-profile bout with McGregor and expressed interest in a potential showdown with Burns, a former title challenger.
The proposed Buckley-Burns fight holds much more credibility, considering Buckley’s ranking at No. 11 and Burns’ position at No. 6. Burns, fresh off a loss to Jack Della Maddalena, presents an enticing challenge for Buckley and could elevate his status in the welterweight division.
Updates on UFC 302 and Other Scheduled Bouts
Recent developments have finalized the fight card for UFC 302, scheduled for June 1 in New Jersey. Among the notable matchups, a middleweight clash between Kevin Holland and Michal Oleksiejczuk has been added to the main card. This fight precedes the co-main event featuring Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa, promising an action-packed event for MMA enthusiasts.
Additional updates from MMA reporter Marcel Dorff shed light on upcoming bouts, including Alex Perez versus Tatsuro Taira headlining a June 15 Fight Night card in Las Vegas. The matchup offers an intriguing showdown following Perez’s impressive victory over Matheus Nicolau on short notice.
Meanwhile, middleweights Cody Brundage and Abdul Razak Alhassan are set to collide at the July 13 card in Denver, presenting another compelling matchup for fans of the sport. Strawweight star Molly McCann’s showdown with Bruna Brasil at UFC 304 and other anticipated fights signal a series of exciting events lined up in the near future within the MMA landscape.
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