UFC welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley didn’t hold back on Sean Brady.
Joaquin Buckley will face the toughest test of his MMA career when he faces former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC Atlanta next month. It marks Usman’s return to the Octagon in two years, stemming from a middleweight loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294.
Buckley is on the verge of a welterweight title shot after an impressive win streak inside the Octagon. He’s defeated the likes of Stephen Thompson, Vicente Luque, and Nursulton Ruziboev since making the full-time transition to welterweight.
But according to Buckley, his UFC Atlanta headliner wasn’t supposed to be his to begin with.
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Joaquin Buckley takes aim at Sean Brady ahead of UFC Atlanta
Enter Sean Brady, who defeated former UFC titleholder Leon Edwards at UFC London earlier this year. He called out the top welterweights, including Usman, after his win, but declined an offer to face Usman at UFC Atlanta.
While Buckley is thankful for the opportunity, he believes Brady made a significant mistake as the two contenders chase the same goal.
In a recent interview with Parry Punch, Buckley lambasted Brady for passing up on the Usman fight to wait for a title shot.
“[Usman] claimed he wanted the Sean Brady fight. Sean Brady skipped on him because he’s like: ‘I don’t need you now, I’m No. 1 contender.’ Brady’s stupid. If that’s true, Brady you dumb,” Buckley said.
“The name you collected ain’t worth nothing. Leon [Edwards] ain’t worth nothing. Sean Brady’s stupid because Kamaru Usman, he is that guy. Kamaru Usman will be a Hall of Famer in the UFC, no doubt.
“So the names do matter. The names do hold value. The names do hold weight. So Sean Brady f–—- –, but his f— — my blessing.”
As of this writing, Brady hasn’t responded to Buckley’s comments. After Ian Machado Garry played the role of the UFC 315 backup fighter, it’s uncertain if he’ll get an immediate title shot, as is his timeline for a return to the cage.
Buckley and Brady both make compelling cases for a title shot if Buckley is victorious at UFC Atlanta. But the UFC is notorious for failing to reward fighters who hold out for title shots.
Ian Machado Garry vs. Sean Brady is a potential option for a top contender fight
After Brady publicly scolded Garry for his comments on not getting the UFC 315 title shot, a matchup between the two top welterweights makes a lot of sense. Garry most recently defeated Carlos Prates at UFC Kansas City, in a bounceback performance after suffering his first career defeat in December.
The UFC welterweight title picture includes the addition of UFC lightweight champ Islam Makhachev, who will vacate the lightweight belt for a move to welterweight. Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira will fight for the vacant title at UFC 317.
Buckley, Brady and Garry all make compelling title shot cases, along with the sidelined Shavkat Rakhmonov. As UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena begins his title reign, there’s no shortage of options at the top of the division.
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