Joaquin Buckley planning to call out ranked contender after UFC on ABC 1

After every UFC event we feature every post-fight callout in our regular post-fight feature, “Callout Collection,” and one man who expects to be front and center in our UFC on ABC 1 edition is surging middleweight Joaquin Buckley.

Buckley (12-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) is in confident mood ahead of Saturday’s middleweight main card clash with Italian Alessio Di Chirico, and said that he’s planning a big-name callout after he gets his hand raised at the Etihad Arena.

Speaking to TMZ, he said he doesn’t expect to earn a ranked position with victory in Abu Dhabi, but he did reveal his intention to issue a callout to a ranked fighter after his performance.

“No (I don’t expect to be ranked), but I’m going to look for a ranked opponent, for sure,” he said. “As soon as I beat Alessio, I’ve already got a callout, so y’all better be ready for that.”

Buckley became the viral star of 2020 when he landed the “Knockout of the Year” against Impa Kasanganay with a stunning spinning back kick at UFC Fight Night 179 in Abu Dhabi, and “New Mansa” plans on producing another highlight-reel moment to wow the fans watching on network television.

“Being on ABC is an awesome thing, man,” he said. “Definitely, it’s a history-making card, especially with it being its debut. So for me to go out there and put on a show for millions of people, that’s pretty cool, man. I’ve got a lot of new fans coming my way pretty soon, so that’s awesome.

“I got to show up and I gotta show out, man. This is just what I do. Every time I go out there it’s always going to be a banger, no matter if it’s only five people watching me fight. So when I go out there, it’s always going to be fun to watch. But you never know what you’re going to see with me, so you never know what to expect. A flying kick, a crazy knee, or an elbow to the jaw. Either way, I’m trying to separate this man from his consciousness, so y’all better watch out.”

As for the identity of his potential callout target, Buckley would only leave a cryptic clue.

“He fights like me!”

UFC on ABC 1 takes place Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The main card airs on ABC and ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN+.

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