Yaroslav Amosov is picking up what Joaquin Buckley is putting down.
Having been ready to go since his successful UFC debut in November, Amosov (29-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)) has been patiently waiting for a UFC call. That's why his ears perked when a recent clip of Buckley (21-7 MMA, 11-5 UFC) calling him out made the rounds on social media.
"When I was watching how he talks about me, everything was about respect," Amosov recently told MMA Junkie. "I respect him and I'm ready to fight with him. This will be good. He talked about White House. I'm not sure what we have for a card in the White House. I think this will be something specific, like only title fights. I don't know (the latest) with the news. But I'm ready to fight with Buckley. We can do this different date, different place. But I'm ready. ... Buckley, I will see you in the octagon. Thank you. You talk about me. I can talk about you. We're fighting. Let's go."
Perhaps catalyzing Amosov's determination to obtain a fight soon, is the fact that one fell through his fingers for seemingly unknown reasons. Amosov revealed the UFC had offered him a Bellator alum vs. Bellator alum clash with Michael Page for UFC London. However, it was announced weeks later that Page would fight on the event – but against up-and-comer Sam Patterson instead.
"I don't know what happened, but manager Andrew (Spivachuk) called me and he said, 'Hey, UFC has an offer for you: MVP in London," Amosov said. "This was before new year, a couple days maybe. I said, 'OK, I'm ready.' But I had just got back to my country in Ukraine. But I thought, 'OK, this is not a problem. I can go back to Florida. I can start training. I have time.' I was ready. But I have very light surgery – just a little bit to fix me, not something serious. I changed my date for this surgery because I was waiting for what the UFC can say. I waited two weeks and the UFC said to me, 'Now, he has a different guy.' I don't know if UFC canceled or he canceled. But this was an offer I had."
Whether he returns vs. Buckley, vs. Page, or vs. someone else, Amosov is focused on getting a ranking next to his name in the immediate aftermath. As things stand, Amosov scratches his head at some of the names listed – and one in particular, whom he isn't too fond of in more ways than one.
"Now in the top 15, I'm not understanding what happened in the rankings," Amosov said. "I'm not understanding why Shavkat (Rakhmonov) is now not in top 15, not in top five. But Colby (Covington) is in top 15? Colby is a crazy guy. He hasn't fought in how many (months). How many times is he not fighting? He's still in top 15. Maybe we need change. Shavkat to Colby."
"... (Covington) was training in ATT last time maybe a couple years ago, maybe five or six years ago. I saw him in ATT. But not every time. Just rarely. I know many guys not respect him. He's a bullsh*t guy. Many talk sh*t. This is crazy trash talk. I don't understand why he talks this. People don't like him because he's from America but not many American guys support him because he talks sh*t. Every time, sh*t."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Yaroslav Amosov responds to Joaquin Buckley, reveals UFC London matchup that fell through