American knockout artist Joaquin Buckley says he'll 'strike to kill' in his UFC fight Saturday

• Knockout strikers Joaquin Buckley and Abdul Razak Alhassan bring fireworks to their fight Saturday.
• Buckley said his instinct is to "hurt somebody" in the Octagon as he vows he'll "strike to kill."

LAS VEGAS — American knockout artist Joaquin Buckley says he'll "strike to kill" in his UFC fight Saturday against fellow striker Abdul Razak Alhassan.

"My instinct is always to hurt somebody," Buckley told reporters this week ahead of his weekend showdown at the UFC Apex property in Las Vegas.

A human highlight-reel, Buckley scored one of the most brilliant knockouts in MMA history when he unleashed a jump spinning back kick against an unsuspecting Impa Kasanganay during a Fight Island festival in 2020.

Veteran slugger Razak Alhassan is also renowned for the dynamite in his fists, as all but one of his 11 knockouts have been from punches.

Buckley promised fireworks in the fight and was seemingly unfazed at his opponent's ability to end bouts as early as the first round.

For the 27-year-old Buckley, who is nine years younger than Razak Alhassan, it raises questions about how the Ghanaian fighter will cope when a bout is taken into the second, or third round.

"He's a good fighter in the first round but we'll see how the later rounds how he does, because at the end of the day I'm always coming hard. First, second, third [round] … we're not heading to the judges for this.

"If he get me, he get me. I don't care about no surviving. I'm always going to come out there and give it my all. If he catch me, good to you, but he got to catch me first.

"My gameplan is to beat his ass! That's what I'm going to do. That's my gameplan.

"Everytime I go out there it's fast-paced, with creativity. And when I punch, it's strike to kill."

The fight is one that excites UFC boss Dana White

The electric middleweight fight is one that excites UFC President Dana White.

"Joaquin Buckley has never gone to a decision in the UFC," said White in a regular round-up he posts on Twitter, singling out some of his favorite matches of the weekend.

"Buckley always brings it with an exciting style and pressure. Ten of his 13 wins are by knockout and he's looking to add to his highlight-reel against another KO artist in Abdul Razak Alhassan.

"Razak is coming off a spectacular win in his last fight. All of his previous wins have been by knockout. These are two athletes with very aggressive styles and you do not want to miss this fight."

ESPN+ will broadcast the fight, as well as the entire UFC event which begins 4 p.m. ET.