Joaquin Buckley is ready to make a statement—even if the UFC isn't giving him a microphone at the pre-fight press conference. The welterweight contender was notably left off the UFC 328 press conference lineup, which only featured fighters from the main and co-main events. Buckley, who faces Sean Brady on Saturday's main card at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., didn't shy away from sharing his thoughts on the snub.

"That's a great question," Buckley told reporters at Wednesday's UFC 328 media day. "I feel like for me, that's where I should have been, and where I should be. But May 9, I've just got to show the world why I'm a superstar and why I'm a main event fighter."

Buckley enters this bout looking to bounce back from a six-fight winning streak that was snapped by former champion Kamaru Usman this past June. Now, facing another elite wrestler in Sean Brady (18-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC), Buckley has taken an unconventional approach to preparation. He spent time training at Kill Cliff FC—with none other than Usman himself.

"The training has been good," Buckley said. "A lot of people are going to see all the things I learned from Usman, and from that fight, and the things I got to work on skill-wise when I was competing with him just in the gym. May 9, the world is going to know all the things that I worked on with Kamaru Usman."

For fans watching at home, this fight has all the makings of a career-defining moment. Buckley has the chance to prove he belongs in the spotlight—with or without a press conference seat. Whether he uses that chip on his shoulder to fuel a statement win remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Buckley isn't just fighting for a win on Saturday. He's fighting for respect.