Joaquin Buckley has voiced his opinion on the proposed fight between Islam Makhachev and current welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena, suggesting it`s “not a massive fight.”
“New Mansa” is scheduled to headline UFC Atlanta this Saturday against former welterweight king Kamaru Usman. Buckley is confident that a win over the veteran will propel him directly into the No. 1 contender spot. With six appearances in the 170-pound division, Buckley holds an undefeated record, featuring recent victories over high-profile opponents Colby Covington and Stephen Thompson.
Despite Buckley`s strong position, the UFC has reportedly signaled its intention for Della Maddalena`s first title defense to be against Islam Makhachev. Makhachev, currently ranked as the Pound-for-Pound No. 1 fighter, is planning to vacate his lightweight title to pursue a second championship belt in the welterweight division.
However, Buckley remains resolute in his ambition.
Speaking on his show, “Buck What You Heard,” Buckley declared, “You already know once we beat Kamaru Usman, it’s title time. It’s time to go get my belt.” He emphasized that no other fighter on the roster has matched his activity and success in the division, highlighting his 15 fights in five years within the promotion, his perfect welterweight record, and his track record of knocking out every ranked opponent he`s faced. He anticipates a potential knockout win over Usman would mark his fourth against a ranked contender.
“You can’t name another guy that’s doing something like that,” Buckley stated. “So once I beat Kamaru Usman, there is no debate, there is no back-and-forth, there is no argument. We up next.” He directly addressed Makhachev`s move up in weight, saying, “You already know we got this guy from 155 coming up thinking he going to take my spot. Nah, we can’t have it.” Buckley firmly believes the planned `JDM` and Islam fight lacks the magnitude of his potential title claim, arguing that Makhachev should wait for him because he poses the toughest challenge for the lightweight champion.
Buckley`s confidence in deserving the title shot extends beyond his divisional achievements; he also believes he possesses the necessary skills to defeat Makhachev if they were to clash.
He outlined his perceived advantages, stating, “He’s not going to out-wrestle me. He’s not going to submit me, I’ve never been submitted in my career. And he’s definitely not going to stand on the feet with me.” Buckley added that if there is fan demand for the fight, it will ultimately happen.
Buckley speculated that the fanbase is aware of Della Maddalena`s capabilities and vulnerabilities, viewing a potential fight with Islam as unpredictable. He suggested that even if Makhachev were to win the welterweight title, he might quickly retire, convinced that Islam is not a natural 170-pounder and would likely avoid a matchup with him. Acknowledging that the sport isn`t always fair, Buckley stressed the importance of actively pursuing the title opportunity: “this is why we’ve got to demand it. We’ve got to go after it and we’ve got to take it.”
Despite his focus on the title, Buckley maintained he is not overlooking Kamaru Usman. He respects the former champion, who defended his belt five times before losing it in 2022. Buckley`s respect for Usman leads him to predict one of two outcomes: either a finish that unequivocally establishes him as the No. 1 contender, or a high-level contest that earns Fight of the Night honors.
Buckley offered a straightforward prediction for the Usman bout: “When I fight Kamaru Usman, there’s only two ways how it’s going to finish… We’re either going to be knocking out Kamaru Usman or this is going to be Fight of the Night. That’s the only two options.”
He elaborated, acknowledging Usman`s esteemed status: “I feel like in my heart, Kamaru Usman, him being former world champion, him about to be a future Hall of Famer, I’m already knowing that he’s putting in that type of work. But if he’s not, then he’s definitely getting knocked out come June 14.”
Even if Joaquin Buckley secures a highlight-reel knockout victory this Saturday, potentially reminiscent of his famous finish of Impa Kasanganay, it is still widely anticipated that he may not receive the title shot opportunity ahead of Islam Makhachev.
Nevertheless, the question of who is next in line remains a point of discussion.
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