Every fighter has their go-to moves, especially specialists within certain martial arts disciplines. Their own signature styles can lead to spectacular finishes. Whether it’s a scary-good rear-naked choke that fighters just can’t seem to avoid once going to the ground or crazy power in a straight left hand that has dropped even granite-chinned fighters with ease, each fighter has a particular finishing move or sequence. Moves that have stuck in fan’s minds and come to define and describe their careers within the cage.
For UFC Fight Island 7 (UFC on ABC 1) we will take a look at some fighters with only a few (5 or less) fights in the UFC, rather than those fighters that are long-time UFC veterans with a bunch of finishes with the promotion.
Joaquin “New Mensa” Buckley (12-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC)
Total Number of Pro MMA Finishes: 9
Via KO/TKO: 9
Via Submission: 0
Total Number of UFC Finishes: 2
Via KO/TKO: 2
(Impa Kasanganay and Jordan Wright)
Via Submission: 0
It’d be fair to say the Joaquin Buckley has taken the UFC by storm.
Buckley’s two-touch spinning back kick KO of Impa Kasanganay last year not only went viral, but it made ‘New Mensa’ practically a household name. The finish was, for many, the KO of the Year. The fight was a very competitive one up to that point as well and it really showed off just how diverse Buckley’s striking is.
Buckley followed up that performance welcoming an undefeated Contender Series alumni, the 11-0 Jordan Wright, to the UFC (though it was his second fight). It was a lopsided match from almost the very start as Joaquin’s striking power and movement was too much for his opponent. After practically forcing a stoppage at the end of the first round, Buckley came out and finished the job KOing Wright just 18 seconds into the second round.
How about THAT knockout from EVERY angle!? 😱
Joaquin Buckley is back at #UFC255 this Saturday! pic.twitter.com/Fx1eZZO1dv
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) November 19, 2020
