UFC president Dana White made a brutal, joking comment about cutting welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley right after Buckley’s second-round knockout loss to Mike Malott this past Saturday. It sounds wild, but White himself admitted to the quip, clarifying he was “f–king joking.” Still, it puts a spotlight on the bizarre lead-up to Buckley’s fight.
The Snub, The Silence, And The KO
Buckley definitely made things awkward heading into UFC Fight Night in Edmonton, Alberta. First off, he straight-up refused to shake Dana White’s hand at Friday’s weigh-ins. Like, just completely blew him off. Then, if that wasn’t enough, Buckley followed it up by refusing to answer any questions in his pre-fight interview. Talk about a cold shoulder. He seemed to be trying to get into Malott’s head, or maybe just making a statement. Whatever it was, it didn’t work out. Mike Malott delivered a second-round knockout, sending Buckley to the mat and adding insult to injury after his pre-fight antics.
Dana White’s Candid, Joking Response
So, what did Dana White think of all this? When asked about Buckley’s perceived diss, White was surprisingly chill about the whole thing. He joked, “As soon as he lost, I told Hunter to cut him,” before immediately adding, “I’m f–king joking.” Typical Dana, right? He basically brushed off Buckley’s behavior, saying he didn’t feel disrespected because he understands that every fighter handles the pressure of fight week differently. “Yes, I have no problem with Joaquin Buckley,” White said. “I’ve been in this business for so long, you can’t take any of that stuff personal. I just stay out of everybody’s way. However you’re dealing with fight week is your business and your deal. It’s all good.” Sounds like White’s seen it all and isn’t letting a handshake snub get to him, especially when it’s followed by a knockout loss.
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Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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