Joaquin Buckley is focused on his fight against Stephen Thompson at UFC 307, while also addressing past conflicts with Daniel Cormier and Kevin Holland, aiming to settle differences and further his career by defeating Thompson.
Joaquin Buckley is laser-focused on his upcoming fight with Stephen Thompson at UFC 307. Yet, old feuds keep tugging at him. It’s like trying to ignore a buzzing fly—nearly impossible.
One intriguing encounter involved a sit-down with UFC legend Daniel Cormier. Their spat began when Cormier critiqued Buckley’s call-out of Conor McGregor after a win. Things got heated online. You know how it goes—keyboard warriors and all that jazz.
Buckley wanted to meet Cormier face-to-face before the big fight. “I just got done talking to D.C.,” Buckley shared at media day. He’d hoped for a private chat, but cameras rolled anyway. Life’s full of surprises, right?
“But it is what it is,” Buckley shrugged. They had a good conversation, he said. Not quite what he imagined, but sometimes you roll with it.
Daniel Cormier tweeted about their meeting, saying they hashed things out like men. He mentioned Buckley’s upcoming fight against “Wonderboy.” As if life isn’t busy enough!
Meanwhile, Kevin Holland’s trying to dodge Buckley by staying elsewhere. Their rivalry dates back to a 2020 TKO loss for Buckley. Apparently, some grudges never die.
Buckley insists he’s got no beef with Holland. He’s focused on Thompson and that paycheck. But if Holland wants drama? Well, “he’s just going to have to pull up on me.”
As for Thompson, Buckley sees the fight as career advancement rather than personal vendetta. He joked about sending “Wonderboy” to Karate Combat—not an attempt to end his career, he clarified.
Buckley’s goal is to dominate Thompson so convincingly that the veteran might reconsider chasing UFC titles. “It’s not about stopping his career,” Buckley explained, “it’s about giving him a different career path.”
He believes Thompson could shine in Karate Combat post-UFC. “I think he can become a champion there,” Buckley mused. A new chapter, perhaps? Only time will tell!