UFC 307: Now 4-0 at welterweight, Joaquin Buckley eyes title shot if victorious vs. Stephen Thompson

SALT LAKE CITY – Joaquin Buckley doesn’t assume the UFC welterweight title is just too removed from attain, particularly if all goes properly this weekend.

Buckley, who’s 4-0 since dropping to 170 kilos in 2023, believes a win over former UFC title challenger Stephen Thompson this Saturday at UFC 307 will put him into title rivalry. Buckley (19-6 MMA, 9-4 UFC) respects what Thompson (17-7-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) has achieved in his profession, however sees him as one other step to get to his final purpose.

“Proper now, he’s undoubtedly going to be someone that’s going to push my title, so you may name him a gatekeeper,” Buckley instructed reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 307 media day. “He’s undoubtedly been on the highest stage for the longest time. That is truly the bottom rating he’s ever been, that we’ve seen, however on the finish of the day I can’t inform his story. I can solely make mine. However on the finish of the day, I really feel like this win for me is certainly going to place me within the place the place I can struggle the title sooner or later.”

Even at 41, Thompson remains to be thought-about one of many trickiest fights within the division, given his unusual karate fashion. Buckley admits it wasn’t straightforward to arrange for “Wonderboy,” however he feels assured he’s going to get the job achieved.

“It was arduous to search out (an analogous coaching accomplice),” Buckley stated. ‘I went to Austin, Texas to go practice with Raymond Daniels, however that coaching and that sparring by no means occurred. I used to be a little bit bummed out as a result of there’s no person else that may replicate my fashion apart from that individual I went to go practice with. However then I considered it, ‘Who’s he coaching in an effort to imitate me?’ On the finish of the day, that is going to be the struggle of who’s bought one of the best model and magnificence to get their hand raised.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 307.