UFC fighter Joaquin Buckley revealed a bombshell: he’s retiring from MMA after his very next fight. The announcement came Thursday night in a video posted by Happy Punch on X, and the reason behind it hits hard.
The KO That Ended Buckley’s Career
Buckley made it crystal clear that the outcome of his most recent bout, and especially how it affected his family, led to this monumental decision. He lost to Mike Malott at UFC Fight Night last weekend via a tough second-round knockout, a defeat that clearly left a mark far beyond the octagon.
It was his grandmother’s reaction, in particular, that sealed the deal. Buckley shared the raw emotion behind his choice, stating, “Hearing my grandmother speak and listening to her talk, and hearing her cry about me having to stop doing this sport because she couldn’t believe what she saw, ya’ll don’t know how that affected me.” That’s the kind of gut-punch that changes a fighter’s entire perspective, isn’t it?
“Doesn’t Make Any Sense” Anymore
While an incredibly “hard” decision, Buckley admitted he’s also “so far away” from his ultimate goal of becoming a world champion. For him, at this point, it simply “doesn’t make any sense” to keep fighting. When you’re an elite athlete chasing the top, and the path feels too long after a deeply personal and impactful loss, sometimes that’s the only logical step.
Buckley’s career will wrap up after one more fight, an emotional farewell for a fighter who has given so much to the sport, now stepping away with family clearly at the forefront of his mind. You gotta respect that.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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