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Joaquin Buckley gives corniest UFC interview you’ve seen ahead of Edmonton main event

Joaquin Buckley made headlines ahead of UFC Fight Night 291 in Edmonton with an unconventional pre-fight interview that left fans divided. During Friday’s weigh-ins at Rogers Place, Buckley faced off against Mike Malott in the welterweight main event before sitting down with UFC correspondent McKenzie Pavacich—only to remain completely silent throughout the exchange.

The move followed his refusal to shake Dana White’s hand earlier, sparking criticism online, with some fans dismissing the “locked in” gimmick as overplayed. Buckley, now entering his third UFC main event, will need to deliver a strong performance Saturday night to silence the memes, as the preliminary card kicks off at 5:00 p.m.

ET and the main event begins at 8:00 p.m. ET.

The controversy adds another layer to an already high-stakes weekend in Edmonton, where Buckley’s ability to connect with fans has been called into question. While some argue the silence is part of his pre-fight routine, others see it as disrespectful or gimmicky—especially after his refusal to engage with White.

With no enemy territory to contend with, Buckley’s focus now shifts entirely to his performance against Malott, where a quick knockout would be his best response to the growing backlash.

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