One more for “New Mansa.”
Just five days after suffering a violent knockout loss in UFC Edmonton’s main event (watch highlights), Joaquin Buckley has unexpectedly announced that his next fight will be his last.
The 32-year-old UFC Welterweight revealed the news Thursday in a lengthy Instagram post, attached with a video, explaining that he wants to walk away while he can still be present and healthy for his children.
“That fight was devastating, and it really affected my family — the people that are closest to me,” Buckley said. “I listened to my grandmother speak and her pray for me over the phone and her really being upset. She told me to retire and get away from the sport because your mind is your biggest tool and asset, and you don’t wanna lose it.”
“It took a lot for me to listen and digest it, but I took some time and slept on it — and I realized my grandmother is right,” Buckley continued. “But with that being said, I told her to pray for me and allow me to grace that Octagon one more time because I can’t leave on a loss….I really got to save myself from any more mileage I put on myself or damage…We’re going to do it right this time. We’re not cutting any corners, no shortcuts, and we’re going to do the difficult things. As I said, this is the last one, but we’re going to make our last one the best one.”
Buckley did not reveal when his farewell fight will take place or whom he wants standing across the Octagon.
The announcement is particularly surprising because “New Mansa” insisted he had no intention of stopping immediately after Mike Malott folded him with a brutal second-round knee at UFC Edmonton last weekend.
“I’m not going to stop, I’m going to keep moving forward,” Buckley said following the loss. “I’m going to show you guys the team that I’m with, the team that I’m building and the thing I want to do. Because at the end of the day, man, I’m a fighter that fights.”
His grandmother changed his mind.
The Malott knockout marked Buckley’s third consecutive defeat following decision losses to former Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and Sean Brady. Before that skid, Buckley had rattled off six straight wins after dropping to 170 pounds, capped by stoppage victories over Stephen Thompson and Colby Covington.
Buckley currently holds a 21-9 professional record with 15 knockout victories. His UFC run will forever be remembered for his unbelievable spinning back-kick knockout over Impa Kasanganay in 2020, one of the most replayed finishes in company history.
Now, Buckley gets one final opportunity to produce another unforgettable moment before calling it a career.
But let’s be super honest: do we really believe this?
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