With UFC’s Big-Name Stars Fading, Las Vegas MMA Promotion Marketing Lesser-Known Fighters
By Cassandra Cousineau for LVSportsBiz.com
In this most wild year for all professional sports, Las Vegas-based UFC has found athletes deep in the well of its roster to carry the MMA promotion through the end of 2020. With well-known marquee names like Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurgomedov, and Amanda Nunes less available either due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, injury, or semi-retirement as was the case of the controversial McGregor, unfamiliar names have stepped up several times to draw the spotlight.
On Saturday night, UFC 255 at the Apex fight venue off the 215 in the southwest Las Vegas valley was no different.
Even with flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo and women’s champion Valentina Shevchenko at the top of the card and winning their matches Saturday (Valentina’s sister also won Saturday), it was up-and-comer Joaquin Buckley who stole the show in his third UFC fight. At 185 lbs, Buckley went viral on October 10, for an incredible Ninja-style jumping spinning back kick. Google his fight against Impa Kasanganay. The middleweight’s devastating blow is still being called one of the best knockouts ever.
Since then, the 26-year-old has been a comet in the universe of MMA fighters. We’re talking about Buckley’s likeness appearing in video games; his name being recognized by the outgoing president of the United States; and even rapper Kanye West shouting him out in a song.
How did the fighter out of St. Louis follow up his first devastating KO? He laid out Jordan Wright with more powerful striking, earning a TKO in round number two tonight. The win nearly came sooner, but his opponent, Wright, managed to escape a barrage late in the first round.
Perhaps the most important acknowledgement Buckley has received is in the form of back-to-back fight-of-the-night bonuses from his boss, UFC President Dana White.
Buckley doesn’t consider himself a one-hit-wonder, and was still teeming with energy and ready for another fight after his win over Wright.
LVSportsbiz.com asked him if he was relieved to have this recent win under his belt given all of the attention and positive feedback he earned after the October victory. “I’m happy to get this fight they might give me January 23, but I’m relieved just to get the win.” Before he makes that 2021 appearance, Buckley will be returning to his job as a night shift supervisor at Walgreens back home in St. Louis.
UFC took a risk by being first out of the gate, offering live sports while the world slowed and locked down amid a novel coronavirus pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 250,000 Americans.
As a result, new fans who wouldn’t normally sample the product, took a bite and stayed at the table.
There are drawbacks of being first and staging almost two dozen events when factoring in the so called “Fight Island” stints on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The UFC talent well could become shallow very early in 2021 if the resurging COVID-19 virus continues to restrict fan attendance and regional shows. The smaller events are the lifeblood of combat sports. A training ground where lesser experienced fighters can cut their teeth and build a resume is how most promotions ensure athletes are ready for the big show. Even with the Dana White Contender Series in its fourth season, not every week produces a slew of contracts.
It’s hard to believe the last major UFC event held in Las Vegas with fans was March 7, when strawweight champion Weili Zhang and former champ turned challenger Joanna Jędrzejczyk battled to what is still considered the fight of the year inside T-Mobile Arena. In eight short or long months — depending on how steadfast you’ve been self-isolating — UFC has held 17 events at its pandemic home base of the Apex.
Even without fans, UFC has been able to introduce the world to mixed martial artists who otherwise wouldn’t have experienced such attention.
