Anyone who tuned into the prelims card of UFC Fight Island 5 over the weekend was treated to the clear cut knockout of the year so far, and possibly the best in recent memory. Joaquin Buckley’s knockout of Impa Kasanganay immediately went viral, after getting millions of views before the card had even finished.
Viral KO
The middleweight contest began with both men trading heavy strikes, before Buckley almost finished the fight towards the end of the first round. In the middle of the second round Kasanganay caught a kick from the 26-year-old, to which he then responded with a spinning back kick that landed flush to the face of his opponent.
Kasanganay stopped dead in his tracks, before falling directly back onto the canvas in one of the more scarier sights in MMA. The fight was stopped instantly and earned Buckley an extra $50,000 for a performance bonus.
Buckley spoke to the media after the fight (transcribed by Bloody Elbow), to describe his spectacular KO.
“I call it Wakanda style,” Buckley said.
Wakanda is a fictional land hidden in Africa, portrayed in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with the character ‘Black Panther’ reprised by Chadwick Boseman. The popular actor passed away earlier this year from cancer, which has caused many fans and athletes alike to pay tribute to the late star.
While Buckley continued to open up on the KO, he described how at first he thought against it and almost didn’t throw it.
“I was conscious of it because he caught my foot the first time, you know what I mean? But I was just hesitant then just to throw it, but the second time, I said ‘Why not?’. And when I threw it, I connected [and] I just didn’t know I knocked him out until I seen his body go stiff and I was just like, ‘Oh yeah that’s game over. That’s match.”
Gracious In Defeat
Kasanganay has since responded to the loss, graciously giving credit and respect to Buckley.
As far as what comes next for the fighter fresh of his best win to date, Buckley said hopes to return to the Octagon very soon.
“We’ll see. I gotta talk to the management team, but I’m trying to get in here ASAP. As soon as possible.”
Who would you like to see Joaquin Buckley face off against next?
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