Joaquin Buckley is challenging the notion that Islam Makhachev should be the next fighter to face welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena.
Buckley, known as “New Mansa,” is scheduled to compete against former welterweight king Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC Atlanta this Saturday. He is confident that defeating Usman will propel him into the position of No. 1 contender. Buckley maintains a perfect record in his six appearances at 170 pounds, boasting recent victories over prominent fighters Colby Covington and Stephen Thompson.
However, the UFC has reportedly indicated that Della Maddalena`s first championship defense is anticipated to be against Makhachev. Makhachev, the current Pound-for-Pound No. 1, is expected to vacate his lightweight title to pursue a second championship belt.
Despite this announced plan, Buckley remains focused on his own path.
“You know, once we beat Kamaru Usman, it`s title time,” Buckley stated on his show, “Buck What You Heard.” He asserted his claim to the belt, highlighting his unmatched activity and success within the promotion. Buckley emphasized his record of 15 fights in five years, his undefeated streak in the welterweight division, and his history of knocking out ranked opponents, noting that Usman could be his fourth such knockout victim.
He continued, “You can`t name anyone else doing this. So after I defeat Kamaru Usman, there`s no room for debate or argument – I am next.” Addressing Makhachev`s potential move up, Buckley commented, “We have this fighter from 155 thinking he`ll take my spot? No way.” Buckley believes the potential fight between Della Maddalena and Islam “is not a massive fight.” While recognizing Della Maddalena as the champion, Buckley feels Islam should wait for him, believing he would be the most challenging opponent for Makhachev.
Buckley`s assertion isn`t solely based on his achievements in the weight class; he also expressed strong belief in his ability to overcome Makhachev should the fight materialize.
“He won`t be able to out-wrestle me,” Buckley declared. “He won`t submit me; I`ve never been submitted in my career. And he certainly won`t trade strikes with me on the feet.” He added that if the public wants to see the matchup, it will happen.
Buckley feels that fans understand Della Maddalena`s strengths and weaknesses, making a potential fight with Islam unpredictable. He speculated that even if Islam received and won the title shot against JDM, he would likely not remain at welterweight, perhaps retiring quickly, as he isn`t a natural 170-pound fighter. Buckley specifically believes Islam would avoid a fight with him. Consequently, Buckley stressed the importance of securing the title shot himself, acknowledging that the world isn`t always fair and sometimes you have to “demand it… go after it and… take it.”
Despite his focus on the title picture, Buckley maintains respect for Kamaru Usman, a former champion with five successful title defenses before losing the belt in 2022. His admiration for Usman leads him to anticipate the fight ending either with a finish that undeniably positions him as the top contender or evolving into a memorable battle for the fans.
Buckley predicted only two potential outcomes for his fight against Kamaru Usman: “We are either knocking out Kamaru Usman, or this will be Fight of the Night. Those are the only possibilities.”
He expressed a gut feeling that Usman, as a former champion and future Hall of Famer, is preparing diligently. However, he confidently stated that if Usman hasn`t put in the necessary work, he “is definitely getting knocked out on June 14.”
