UFC Encouraged To Book Joaquin Buckley Against 'Roberto Durán Of The UFC' Next After Vicente Luque Win

Josh Thomson recently floated an intriguing next opponent for Joaquin Buckley. 

Over the weekend, at UFC Fight Night: Blanchfield vs. Fiorot, Buckley picked up an impressive win over Vicente Luque. The victory marked his third win in a row, and saw him put "The Silent Assassin" down with punches for a second-round TKO win.

With the victory, many are expecting a higher-ranked opponent for "New Mansa" next time he steps into the Octagon, as he continues his journey up the welterweight ladder. 

'That'd Be A Fun Fight' - Thomson Pitches Opponent For Buckley

During a recent edition of the WEIGHING IN podcast, Josh Thomson revealed he'd actually like to see Joaquin Buckley fight an unranked combatant next. "The Punk" sees entertainment value in a clash between Buckley and Kelvin Gastelum. 

"You know who I'd want to see him fight, and I know he's not in the rankings here, but if he stays at 170, is Kelvin Gastelum," Thomson said. "That'd be a fun fight, Kelvin kicks a little bit, Kelvin wrestles a little bit, he's got good hands and quick boxing, I wouldn't mind seeing that fight, let's get Kelvin in that top 10."

Thomson went on to point out that Luque gave the lower-ranked Buckley a shot, and argued that Buckley should pay it forward by giving the same courtesy to Gastelum. 

Should the matchup come to fruition, Gastelum will have to emerge victorious from his next fight this summer. The former middleweight will collide with Daniel Rodriguez at the UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia this June, marking his return after suffering a loss to Sean Brady in his welterweight return last December.

"The Punk" noted that MMA veteran referee and co-host John McCarthy considers Gastelum the Robert Durán of the UFC. 

"If I was the UFC, I'd be thinking, 'What fun fights can we put on for Joaquin Buckley?'" Thomson said. "Kelvin Gastelum would be the fight. The modern-day Roberto Durán, as you like to call him."

Robert Durán is a former multi-divisional boxing champion who fought across five decades before finally retiring in 2001. Widely regarded as an all-time great, "Hands of Stone" blended aggressive power-punching with slick, technically astute defense in the ring. 

"Roberto Durán of MMA," McCarthy reiterated, regarding Gastelum.