Photo Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
'Wouldn't Mind Him Fighting Leon Edwards' - Jamahal Hill, Wonderboy, & Others React To Joaquin Buckley's Home Win At UFC Fight Night St. Louis
After his win in Atlantic City on March 30, Joaquin Buckley said he would have made for a better main event for this weekend's UFC Fight Night in St. Louis.
While he didn't get the top headline spot, Buckley earned a co-main event slot and made the most of it. In front of his hometown, Buckley scored a decision win over Nursulton Ruziboev.
Ruziboev landed the better quantity and quality of strikes in the first round, though Buckley tried to bring his wrestling game to the forefront, landing a pair of takedowns during the round.
"New Mansa" seemed to have the upper hand in the second round, landing another pair of takedowns and limiting the damage Ruziboev could do with his punches.
Then, the third frame was all Buckley. The local favorite got the fight back to the ground and landed 50 strikes that went unanswered by Ruziboev. In spite of the domination on the ground in the final round, referee Keith Petersen elected to not stop the fight.
The fight instead went to the scorecards, with Buckley earning a unanimous decision and celebrating with his hometown crowd.
Following the fight, Buckley called out Conor McGregor.
MMA Fighters & Fans React After Joaquin Buckley Gets Win In Front Of Home Crowd
Buckley entered tonight on a three-fight win streak, coming in off a huge second-round finish of Vicente Luque at the UFC Fight Night Atlantic City on March 30.
Ruziboev, meanwhile, won 10 straight and 12 of his last 13 prior to tonight's bout. He also entered 2-0 in the UFC, having knocked out Brunno Ferreira in 77 seconds and finished Sedriques Dumas in about three minutes.
