Since dropping back-to-back losses in 2022, Missouri’s own Joaquin Buckley has gone on an outstanding five-fight winning streak; topped by a beautiful knockout of popular veteran Stephen Thompson at UFC 307.
Following his third-round KO earlier this month, the hard-hitting ‘New Mansa’ would call for a fight with former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman… And if that bout doesn’t materialize next, there are plenty of chaotic matchups waiting for the St. Louis superstar.
Joaquin Buckley open to facing Covington next if Usman declines offer
Despite calling out Usman just two weeks ago in Salt Lake City, Joaquin Buckley is already beginning to doubt that the former pound-for-pound king will accept his fight offer.
“I really don’t expect him to really push for that fight just because of how difficult the fight might be for him,” Buckley explained in a recent interview with veteran reporter Luke Thomas.
“For me, I’m still working on things, but I really fight like when it comes to the standup [as] I don’t think Usman really has anything for me… I think my cardio and pace will definitely challenge him; usually he’s the one that’s pushing the narrative on his conditioning, but I think that I can push my conditioning past Usman at this point in my career.”
Buckley admitted that he hadn’t been in contact with the UFC since getting his hand raised out in Utah but understands that patience is key to securing big-money fights from his #9 spot in the rankings.
“No, they haven’t [told me what’s next], they won’t say anything until they’re ready to make a go on whatever call they’re trying to do… Nothing from the UFC but right now, it’s just about being patient and capitalizing on this moment.”
Kamaru Usman hasn’t competed in the UFC since dropping a majority decision to Khamzat Chimaev all the way back in October 2023.
Luckily, if the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ isn’t interested in Buckley, there’s another chaotic former champion who the surging contender would like to welcome back to the octagon, Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington.
“Time ain’t on nobody’s side so if you really want to show the world what you’ve been up to and how you’ve been working, you got to fight,” noted Buckley on Covington’s near-10-month hiatus from the sport.
“You know that I’m happy to go and find out myself too with Colby Covington if he’s not got a fight lined up… I’d definitely be willing to take that fight… That is someone who has fought for the belt, who has proven himself, you know he’s highly ranked in the division at 170lbs so why not?”
‘New Mansa’ shares his thoughts on the WW title fight set for UFC 310
This past weekend, Dana White confirmed that the welterweight title will be put up for grabs in the main event of UFC 310 this December when current king Belal Muhammad takes on 18-0 Shavkat Rakhmonov.
“I think it’s a good fight, and it’s only going to be a good fight because of the way Belal comes [in as] every time he sets himself to fight an opponent, he prepares himself in the right way,” stated Buckley on the matchup.
“Shavkat is the type of fighter who believes that his talent and skills is going to take him as far [as you can go]. He’s been finishing everybody, but I don’t believe that Shavkat is doing any film study on Belal…
“Shavkat believes just in his head that him stepping into the cage with Belal is going to be good enough,” claimed the 20-6 contender, teasing how Muhammad could have the right gameplan to “take the fight where he needs to and get the decision.”