MMA Preview – Alex Morono vs Joaquin Buckley at UFC Fight Night 229
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ALEX MORONO VS JOAQUIN BUCKLEY FACTS
When is UFC Fight Night 229? Saturday 7th October, 2023 - 22:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC Fight Night 229? UFC APEX, Enterprise, Nevada (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night 229? Click here to buy tickets for UFC Fight Night
What channel is UFC Fight Night 229 on? TNT Sports 1
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 229? TNT Sports subscribers can stream the fight online via the TNT Sports website and Discovery+
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
ALEX MORONO VS JOAQUIN BUCKLEY LOWDOWN
Alex Morono (23-8(1)) returns after a brilliant response to getting his four-fight win streak snapped. He met Santiago Ponzinibbio (2022) at UFC 282 and got TKO’d in the third round to crush his momentum. However, he returned back in May to take on the crafty veteran Tim Means and submitted him in the second round to go 12-5(1) in the UFC.
Now, he takes on Joaquin Buckley (16-6) who is also coming off a brilliant second-round finish. He was on a two-fight skid losing a unanimous decision to Nassourdine Imavov (2022) and getting knocked out by Christ Curtis (2022). However, he then finally dropped down to welterweight and kicked off his welterweight chapter with a head kick knockout over Andre Fialho (2023).
ALEX MORONO VS JOAQUIN BUCKLEY PREDICTION
Morono is a better, smarter Mixed Martial Artist but Buckley has the firepower to turn the lights out and he will be salivating looking at the three knockouts in Morono’s loss column.
Welterweight is clearly Buckley’s natural weight class and we feel we have not seen the best out of him yet. His power will be even more of a threat at 170 lbs and he is maturing with each fight.
Morono on the other hand is more cerebral and more well-rounded. He is one of the most underrated jiu-jitsu practitioners on the roster. If they end up on the canvas, there will only be one outcome, so Buckley is unlikely to call upon his wrestling.
Morono’s downfall could be the reliance in his hands. He is a good striker, but if he decides to stand for three rounds, he will give Buckley his only opportunity to get this done. That said, Morono is more technical on the feet and we can see him keeping the fight standing.
He will be poised and ready to counter Buckley’s explosive attacks. He has more avenues to victory and is simply the better fighter. That said, you cannot count Buckley out against someone who has been knocked out three times, especially down at welterweight.
Prediction: Morono via Decision
Value bet: Morono via finish
