Thompson Warned Buckley’s Power Could Open UFC 307 Fight
Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson predicted before UFC 307 that Joaquin Buckley’s confidence and physical style could create openings, and even suggested he might submit the younger welterweight. The October 5, 2024 bout ended differently: Buckley knocked Thompson out with a right hand at 2:17 of the third round.
The Mental Game
Before the fight, Thompson discussed Buckley’s confidence and suggested it could work against him if Buckley became reckless. That was Thompson’s pre-fight assessment, not an established weakness; Buckley’s finish at UFC 307 was the decisive evidence from their matchup.
Thompson’s comments about Buckley’s mindset and build were part of the pre-fight discussion. The bout was scheduled for three rounds, and Buckley ended it before the judges were needed.
Strategic Considerations
Thompson entered as the veteran technical striker, while Buckley brought pressure and explosive power. The fight’s key moments were:
- Early threat: Thompson landed in the opening exchanges, but Buckley remained aggressive and kept pressing.
- Momentum shift: Buckley’s pressure and power made the distance difficult to maintain as the fight progressed.
- Finish: Buckley landed a right hand that knocked Thompson down, then followed up until the referee stopped the bout at 2:17 of round three.
The Buckley Factor
Buckley had moved down from middleweight to welterweight before this bout. His speed and power proved decisive in the third-round stoppage.
The result showed how Buckley overcame Thompson’s technical striking:
- Buckley kept advancing and forced exchanges at close range.
- Thompson found openings early, but Buckley’s pressure continued into the third round.
- A clean right hand dropped Thompson, and Buckley’s follow-up strikes secured the stoppage.
Official Result
The bout’s official result and finish were:
- Buckley defeated Thompson by knockout at 2:17 of round three.
- The finish came from a right hand followed by ground strikes.
- The fight took place on the UFC 307 preliminary card in Salt Lake City.
The Verdict
The matchup ended in a clear result for Buckley: he stopped the former title challenger with a right hand and follow-up strikes at 2:17 of round three. The official UFC results list the finish as a knockout. Thompson’s pre-fight prediction of a possible submission did not come to pass.
Buckley’s UFC 307 win extended his winning streak and became a major step in his rise at welterweight. The UFC recorded the official finish as a knockout at 2:17 of round three.
Sources: UFC 307 official preliminary results; MMA Fighting’s UFC 307 results report.
