American MMA star Joaquin Buckley snubbed a handshake from UFC boss Dana White and then stayed silent throughout a TV interview.

The welterweight faces Mike Malott in the main event of UFC Fight Night 291 in Edmonton, Canada, on Saturday night.

Buckley is perhaps best known for his stunning spinning kick six years ago that ended in a brutal knockout of Impa Kasanganay.

This week, the American has gone viral without saying a word. At the pre-fight weigh-in, Buckley was in no mood for handshakes before his face-off with Malott.

Up on the stage in Edmonton, White held out his hand but Buckley ignored the UFC president, preferring to stare down his rival. That sparked a look of bemusement from White.

In another clip that soon flooded social media, Buckley refused to answer any questions during his interview with UFC reporter McKenzie Pavacich.

Instead, the American welterweight simply stared down the camera for more than a minute until Pavacich abandoned the conversation.

'This might be a first for me, guys,' the interviewer said. 'Joaquin we will let you stay locked in [and] get ready for this fight. Best of luck to you.'

Before the cameras cut away from the interview, 'New Mansa' - who is rarely short of something to say in fight week - had already begun to walk off.

The American takes on Malott on the back of two straight defeats. Before losing to Sean Brady in May, Buckley said he believed he was fighting for his UFC future.