Joaquin Buckley KO: Fans React to Dana White Snub

Joaquin Buckley’s defeat at UFC Edmonton has become a major talking point among MMA fans, with many connecting his knockout loss to his unusual behaviour during fight week. The UFC welterweight suffered a second-round knockout against Mike Malott after a perfectly timed knee to the jaw ended their contest, prompting fans to revisit Buckley’s decision to snub UFC CEO Dana White’s handshake just hours earlier.

Buckley, widely known by his nickname “New Mansa,” attracted attention before the fight when he refused to shake hands with White during the ceremonial weigh-in face-offs. He also declined to shake hands with his opponent, Malott, and remained silent during a subsequent interview.

While the pre-fight incident generated discussion across the MMA community, the result inside the Octagon gave fans even more reason to talk about Buckley. Following his knockout defeat, social media users flooded online discussions with jokes about karma, Dana White’s supposed “black magic,” and the consequences of provoking the UFC boss.

One fan summed up the reaction with the comment, “Dana Black magic,” while others joked that White had somehow collected another grudge. The reactions quickly became part of the wider conversation surrounding Buckley’s disappointing night at UFC Edmonton.

Joaquin Buckley Rejects Dana White’s Handshake Before UFC Edmonton

The controversy began during the ceremonial weigh-ins ahead of UFC Edmonton, when Buckley took an unconventional approach to the traditional pre-fight face-offs. Rather than participating in the usual exchange of handshakes, the welterweight fighter refused to shake hands with Dana White.

Buckley also declined to shake hands with Malott, his opponent for the evening. The decision made the face-off particularly uncomfortable and drew attention because handshakes are a familiar part of pre-fight formalities in mixed martial arts.

The situation became even more noticeable when Buckley remained completely silent during an interview that followed. His refusal to engage added to the impression that he wanted to make a statement before entering the Octagon.

Although fighters often use face-offs and interviews to build tension before a contest, Buckley’s actions stood out because they involved both the UFC’s chief executive and his scheduled opponent. The incident quickly became a talking point among fans following the event.

However, the pre-fight drama was only part of the story. Once the cage doors closed, the focus shifted to the matchup between Buckley and Malott, and the Canadian fighter ultimately delivered the decisive moment of the contest.

Mike Malott Knocks Out Joaquin Buckley in the Second Round

Malott produced a decisive finish against Buckley at UFC Edmonton, knocking out the American welterweight in the second round. The fight ended when Malott landed a perfectly timed knee to Buckley’s jaw, leaving his opponent unable to continue.

The knockout gave Malott a significant victory and immediately shifted attention away from the pre-fight exchanges. Instead of Buckley’s refusal to shake hands dominating the conversation, fans were left discussing the manner in which the fight ended.

For Buckley, the defeat was particularly difficult because of the attention surrounding his behaviour before the contest. His actions had already generated considerable discussion, and the knockout provided social media users with an opportunity to connect the two incidents through jokes about karma and superstition.

It is important to distinguish the online reactions from the sporting result itself. There is no evidence that Buckley’s handshake incident had any connection to the outcome of the fight. Malott secured the victory through his performance inside the Octagon, with the well-timed knee proving decisive.

Nevertheless, the combination of pre-fight tension and a dramatic knockout created the kind of storyline that often captures the attention of MMA fans. The sequence gave supporters plenty to discuss long after the contest ended.

“Dana Black Magic”: MMA Fans React to Buckley’s Knockout Loss

Following the fight, fans quickly brought up Buckley’s refusal to shake White’s hand. Many treated the knockout as an opportunity to joke about the UFC CEO supposedly bringing bad luck to fighters who cross him.

One of the most widely discussed reactions came from social media user @gruttxd, who wrote:

“Dana Black magic.”

The short comment captured the humorous tone of many responses. Rather than analysing the technical details of the knockout, the fan connected Buckley’s defeat to his earlier interaction with White, joking that the UFC boss had somehow influenced events.

Another user, @enigmachine, continued the joke by highlighting how the situation had unfolded:

“It’s funnier because it’s true. So often happens like that. Buckley got all weird. Mike sent him weird again!”

The comment suggested that Buckley’s unusual behaviour before the fight made the eventual knockout even more entertaining for observers. The user framed the result as an ironic reversal, with Malott delivering the decisive response inside the cage.

While the remarks were clearly humorous, they reflected a broader pattern in combat sports discussions. When a fighter makes headlines for provocative behaviour before a contest and subsequently loses, fans often revisit those moments and interpret the outcome through the lens of karma.

Fans Joke About Karma After the Fight

Another reaction came from @KickinWithKush, who joked about whether Buckley’s defeat could be described as karma:

“I don’t want to call that karma, but what’s right before karma? Oops-a-daisy?”

The comment played on the familiar idea that controversial behaviour can come back to haunt someone. In this case, the user connected Buckley’s refusal to participate in the handshake with the second-round knockout that followed.

Of course, the connection was part of the online humour rather than an explanation for the result. Fighters can lose for many technical and tactical reasons, and Malott’s well-timed knee was the decisive factor in this contest.

Still, the timing made the joke particularly appealing to fans who had already seen footage of Buckley’s pre-fight interaction with White. The incident and the knockout became linked in the online conversation because they happened within the same fight-week storyline.

“Dana Out Here Collecting Grudges”

Social media user @lucyxxflutterxx offered another humorous take on the situation, writing:

“Dana out here collecting grudges like they’re championship belts.”

The remark portrayed White as someone who keeps track of perceived slights, comparing supposed grudges to the championship belts fighters compete to win. It was another example of fans turning a sporting result into a wider joke about the UFC boss’s personality and influence.

White has become a frequent subject of MMA memes because of his prominent role in the sport and his often outspoken public persona. As the face of the UFC, his interactions with fighters regularly attract attention, particularly when they involve disagreements, confrontations or unexpected moments.

Buckley’s refusal to shake his hand therefore became more than a brief pre-fight incident. Once the knockout occurred, the handshake snub supplied fans with an easy narrative around which to build their reactions.

Why Buckley’s Pre-Fight Antics Became a Bigger Story After the Knockout

Pre-fight confrontations are common in mixed martial arts. Fighters often attempt to unsettle opponents, generate attention or establish a psychological advantage before competing. Face-offs, press conferences and interviews can become part of the build-up to a major fight.

However, those moments can take on a different meaning when the result does not go the fighter’s way. A confident or confrontational performance before a contest can become the subject of jokes if the same fighter subsequently suffers a decisive defeat.

That dynamic was evident in Buckley’s case. His refusal to shake hands with White and Malott had already attracted attention, but the knockout gave fans a dramatic conclusion to the story. The result allowed social media users to revisit the earlier incident and frame it as an example of karma.

There is also a difference between the public narrative and the sporting reality. Buckley’s handshake decision did not determine what happened in the cage. Malott still had to execute his game plan, identify an opportunity and land the strike that ended the fight.

For that reason, the most important competitive takeaway remains Malott’s performance. The Canadian secured the knockout with a well-timed knee, while Buckley was left to deal with a disappointing result that quickly became a social media talking point.

Dana White Jokes About Cutting Joaquin Buckley From the UFC

Dana White also addressed the controversy after Buckley’s loss, revealing that he was aware of the fighter’s refusal to shake his hand. During the UFC Edmonton post-fight press conference, a reporter asked White whether the incident had bothered him.

White responded with a joke that immediately added another layer to the story. Referring to Buckley’s defeat, the UFC CEO said:

“Well, as soon as he lost, I told Hunter [Campbell], ‘Cut him’. I’m f**king joking. Yes, I have no problem with Joaquin Buckley.”

The opening line appeared to play into the online jokes surrounding the handshake incident. By suggesting that he had immediately told UFC executive Hunter Campbell to cut Buckley after the loss, White gave the media a humorous response that echoed the memes circulating among fans.

However, White quickly clarified that he was joking and explicitly stated that he had no problem with Buckley. His comments did not indicate that the fighter was actually being released from the UFC.

The clarification is important because the initial remark could easily be misinterpreted without the rest of the quote. White used the moment to make light of the situation rather than announce any disciplinary action against the welterweight.

White Says He Has No Problem With Buckley

Despite the attention surrounding the handshake snub, White made it clear that he did not hold a grudge against Buckley. His statement that he had no problem with the fighter directly undercut the suggestion that the incident would lead to professional consequences.

The joke about cutting Buckley was therefore consistent with the light-hearted tone that had emerged online after the knockout. Fans were portraying the incident as an example of Dana White’s supposed bad luck, and White responded with humour of his own.

The exchange also demonstrated how quickly a brief moment at a ceremonial weigh-in can become a major talking point when combined with a dramatic fight result. Buckley’s decision to avoid the handshake initially drew attention, but White’s post-fight response ensured the story continued beyond the Octagon.

Mike Malott’s Victory Takes Centre Stage

Although the handshake controversy has dominated much of the online reaction, Malott’s knockout remains the defining sporting moment of the fight. His perfectly timed knee to Buckley’s jaw ended the contest in the second round and gave him a decisive victory at UFC Edmonton.

For Malott, the result offered an opportunity to make a statement through his performance rather than through pre-fight exchanges. His finish demonstrated the importance of timing and precision in mixed martial arts, where a single well-executed strike can change the course of a fight.

Buckley, meanwhile, will need to move forward from the defeat and assess the performance itself. While fans may continue joking about the handshake incident, the technical outcome is straightforward: Malott found the decisive opening and capitalised on it.

The bout also serves as a reminder that pre-fight theatrics can create additional attention, but they do not guarantee success inside the cage. Ultimately, the result depends on what happens when the fighters compete.

Final Verdict

Joaquin Buckley’s second-round knockout loss to Mike Malott at UFC Edmonton has sparked a wave of reactions because of the unusual events that preceded the fight. Buckley refused to shake hands with Dana White during the ceremonial weigh-ins, declined to shake hands with Malott and remained silent during a subsequent interview.

After Malott landed a perfectly timed knee to Buckley’s jaw to secure the knockout, fans quickly revisited those moments. Comments about “Dana Black magic,” karma and White supposedly collecting grudges turned the defeat into a major online talking point.

White added to the discussion during the post-fight press conference by joking that he had told Hunter Campbell to cut Buckley immediately after the loss. However, he quickly clarified that he was joking and stated that he had no problem with the fighter.

While the memes may continue, the result ultimately came down to Malott’s performance inside the Octagon. The Canadian secured a decisive victory, while Buckley’s pre-fight antics became an additional storyline surrounding an otherwise clear sporting outcome.

Key takeaway: Mike Malott knocked out Joaquin Buckley in the second round at UFC Edmonton, prompting fans to connect the defeat to Buckley’s earlier handshake snub of Dana White. White later joked about cutting Buckley but confirmed that he had no problem with the fighter.