During a media day event, Joaquin Buckley repeatedly told journalists that "on May 9, the world will find out," repeating the phrase approximately ten times in five minutes. When reporters attempted to get him to reveal what would happen on May 9, Buckley simply repeated his cryptic statement. One journalist asked about his plans for May 10, but Buckley again responded with his standard line about May 9. The American welterweight successfully built intrigue without giving away any details about the upcoming announcement.
Joaquin Buckley has the MMA world curious after a media day appearance on May 7 in which the welterweight contender repeatedly teased a mysterious announcement set for May 9.
Buckley, nicknamed "New Mansa," offered journalists almost nothing to work with. When pressed for details, he returned to a single cryptic line — that on May 9, the world will find out — delivering it roughly ten times over the course of five minutes. Even a question about his plans for May 10 failed to crack the script. Whatever is coming, Buckley is intent on letting the date speak for itself.
The 32-year-old American trains out of Murcielago MMA and holds a professional record of 21 wins and 8 losses in the welterweight division, where he is currently ranked eleventh in the UFC. Standing five-foot-ten with a 76-inch reach, Buckley is a southpaw known for his striking output, averaging 3.88 significant strikes landed per minute. He also contributes on the ground, averaging 1.54 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Buckley sits just outside the welterweight top ten, meaning any fight announcement could have direct rankings implications for one of the UFC's most competitive divisions.
- His striking-heavy style and southpaw stance create matchup problems for a wide range of opponents, making his next booking a storyline worth watching.
- The deliberate buildup suggests the announcement may carry more weight than a routine fight booking — though the nature of the news remains entirely unknown until May 9.
