Impa Kasanganay Breaks Down His Viral Knockout Loss Against Joaquin Buckley

Impa Kasanganay, a former light heavyweight champion with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), recently reflected on his knockout loss to Joaquin Buckley during a 2020 fight. Buckley delivered a spinning hook kick that has since been recognized as one of the most remarkable finishes in mixed martial arts (MMA) history. Kasanganay, who has a professional record of 19 wins and 6 losses, expressed admiration for Buckley’s skill, noting that the knockout was not merely a product of athleticism but a strategic execution that he had observed during the fight.

In a breakdown of the fight, Kasanganay highlighted that Buckley had been effectively landing kicks that went unanswered prior to the knockout. He described how, after successfully catching one of Buckley’s kicks, the subsequent spinning kick followed as a premeditated response. Kasanganay acknowledged Buckley’s continued success in the sport and expressed openness to a future rematch.

Kasanganay, who was released from the UFC in 2021 after a knockout defeat to Carlston Harris, rebounded by signing with the PFL. He won the world championship in 2023, recently achieving a stoppage victory against Andrew Sanchez. Meanwhile, Buckley, who holds a record of 21-7, has made strides in the UFC middleweight rankings but recently experienced a defeat against former champion Kamaru Usman.