You may not know his name, but you’ve surely seen Buckley’s work inside the Octagon as the promising middleweight delivered the Knockout of the Year last time out against Impa Kasanganay.
The 26-year-old made his promotional debut on short notice earlier in the year, landing on the wrong side of a third-round stoppage result against streaking Contender Series grad Kevin Holland, but his performance against Kasanganay showed he was an intriguing addition to the 185-pound ranks.
Listen, anyone expecting Buckley to come out and replicate his incredible jumping, spinning back kick every time out is being unrealistic, but it’s the awareness, inventiveness, and ability to execute that maneuver that makes this weekend’s matchup against fellow striker Jordan Wright worth tuning in for on Saturday.
Most people aren’t capable of delivering a blow like that and fewer are willing to pull the trigger when the opportunity presents itself, but Buckley showed no hesitation, immediately spinning and elevating when Kasanganay caught his initial kick. The St. Louis native showed flashes against Holland — who has earned two more victories since then and is now slated to face Jack Hermansson in December — and looked outstanding in his sophomore showing, making his third appearance in the Octagon a must-see event.
The middleweight division has seen a tremendous influx of talent over the last year and the competition to make headway in the 185-pound ranks is serious, but Buckley is definitely one to keep an eye on going forward. His pairing with Wright should provide another opportunity to showcase his striking, and if he comes away with another impressive victory, Buckley will head into 2021 on a two-fight winning streak, staring down a bunch of opportunities in the talent-rich weight class.
