Welterweight knockout artist Joaquin Buckley isn’t buying Sean O’Malley as the next big thing in MMA.
Fresh off an impressive unanimous decision victory over Alex Morono in October, Buckley sat down with Mike Owens in a MiddleEasy exclusive interview to discuss his current career trajectory and all things MMA-related. During their conversation, Owens inquired about the possibility of seeing ‘New Mansa’ compete at the promotion’s next big milestone event, UFC 300.
“I don’t know what that’ll do for me fighting on UFC 300,” Buckley said. “Obviously, the only thing that’ll do for anybody is if they’re the main event, like Conor McGregor or Jon Jones, but he’s out. They would have to put a big name on that UFC 300 for anybody to really care about that card.
“Yeah, it is stacking up from UFC 100 to 200 to 300, seeing where the UFC came from and how far they’ve gone, but at the end of the day, that does nothing for me or my career.”
Speaking of Conor McGregor, fight fans have been waiting with bated breath for any news regarding the Irishman’s long-awaited return. However, Buckley is convinced that the moment will likely never come.
“If he was gonna come back, he would have already come back,” Buckley said. “Even with the excuse of USADA, you can’t be using any type of substance or PEDs in the first place, and even with USADA being gone [at the end of the year], they’re still going to have a drug agency that can check us and make sure that we are not cheating or make sure that we’re not using anything extra in order to enhance our abilities.
“Regardless though, money Mac is making all the money in the world. He doesn’t need to fight, but one thing he is trying to do because of his ego is, he’s trying to stay relevant. He’s trying to do what he can do to keep people interested in him. My man just got done singing ‘Locked Up’ by Akon for whatever reason on Twitter, but it blew up because he is who he is.
“Okay, I get it. You’re just trying to stay relevant. For the UFC, he just tries to keep people thinking he’s coming back, but I don’t think that man’s coming back.”
3 years ago today, Joaquin Buckley knocked out Impa Kasanganay pic.twitter.com/qEj3SSIV5w
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) October 11, 2023
With the UFC’s top draw sitting on the shelf for more than two years, many are now looking toward Sean O’Malley to take the torch that McGregor has seemingly left behind.
“People tryin’ to say Sean O’Malley, but I just don’t think that Sean O’Malley has that presence like Conor did,” Buckley added. “You don’t need somebody exactly like Conor, but you gotta have somebody who’s confident on that mic and is willing to speak their mind freely without any type of filter, and have a little swagger about him.
“Right now, I feel like the UFC doesn’t have that and I feel like we need another face for the UFC, no matter who it is, but we need another face besides Conor McGregor.”
If Joaquin Buckley could pick a name to become the face of the UFC, it would be none other than perhaps the most controversial figure in all of MMA.
“Who I see, but he can’t be the face because the UFC will never allow it is Sean Strickland,” Buckley revealed. “Numbers are going crazy right now on everything. He’s more for the people, but that’s how you become the face of combat sports is getting people to do, but I feel that the way Sean speaks, he’s not going to have big brands and big endorsements to back him. But if they do, that’s beautiful for him.”
Joaquin Buckley Comments on the PFL’s Acquisition of Bellator
Having spent two years of his career competing under the Bellator MMA banner, Joaquin Buckley was asked for his take on the blockbuster deal announced Monday that saw the Professional Fighters League absorb Bellator and its roster of talent.
“Everybody’s getting their money,” Buckley said. “That’s all I see so I don’t really feel anything about it. It doesn’t change what I’m doing here in the UFC, but PFL is doing its thing. They’re taking a chapter out of the UFC’s book by acquiring another promotion and adding on to their roster, but they’ve still got a long way to go before they can call themselves as competitors of the UFC.”
As for whether or not he sees the merger being a good thing for the sport, Buckley suggested that the PFL absorption of Bellator means there are fewer options for aspiring fighters.
“Our sport is still one of the biggest and fastest-growing sports. MMA has a lot of young talent out there trying to get into the sport. Whether you’re talking about boxers transitioning over to MMA or wrestlers giving up on the Olympics and going straight into MMA. A lot of young talent out there trying to make a name for themselves, but it’s gonna be hard if you only have one or two big promotions out there and the rest is just regional shows.”
Watch the full interview below:
