Over the course of his career, Buckley has been outspoken about getting Black youth into MMA and more Black fans into the arenas. He readily admits that boxing is the HNIC for many Black folks when it comes to combat sports, but he sees himself a conduit to help bring more awareness and interest to the sport.

Stephen Thompson will serve as a desk analyst at UFC Atlanta, where former opponents Kamaru Usman and Joaquin Buckley meet in the main event.