MMA Fighting Jan 15, 2021, 2:00pm EST
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It’s a new year, but Joaquin Buckley is still being asked about his star-making moment from 2020.
Wednesday’s media day for UFC Fight Island 7 in Abu Dhabi marked Buckley’s first opportunity to speak to reporters en masse about the Knockout of the Year awards that he’d won from the UFC and various publications (including MMA Fighting) for his stunning spin kick knockout of Impa Kasanganay last October. Buckley has fought and won since, scoring another impressive KO against Jordan Wright at UFC 255 the following month, but his win over Kasanganay still has fans and media buzzing.
Jan 6, 2021
Former Bellator lightweight champion, Michael Chandler, sheds light on why his fight with Tony Ferguson fell through.
Chandler and Ferguson were due to face off at UFC 254 on 24th October 2020. However, negotiations went stale and Chandler was then made the backup fighter for the Justin Gaethje vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov title fight. Both fighters made it to the Octagon, meaning Chandler was left twiddling his thumbs. Fear not, as Chandler has finally been handed a UFC debut when he squares off against Dan Hooker at UFC 257. Still, why did his fight with Ferguson not make it to reality? (H/T BJPenn.com)
Over the last few years, former Bellator lightweight champion Will Brooks has done his best to establish himself as the best lightweight in the sport outside of the UFC and as one of the best 155-pound fighters in the world overall. With an 18-1 record and two huge wins over Michael Chandler, who held the claim as the best lightweight fighter outside of Zuffa before Brooks, “Ill Will” has been one of the most dominant fighters on the Bellator MMA roster in terms of producing in the cage and in the headlines. However, his recent falling out with the company led to his release and the stripping of his title earlier this week. Suddenly, all signs seem to point to Brooks making his way to the Octagon sooner rather than later. After already proving himself as one of the top lightweights outside of the UFC, it only makes sense for Brooks to want to prove himself on the big stage.