Joaquin Buckley, currently preparing for his main event bout against former champion Kamaru Usman at UFC Atlanta this Saturday, believes a victory will solidify his position as a top contender in the welterweight division. However, he understands that the next title shot is slated for former lightweight king Islam Makhachev, who will challenge the new welterweight champion, Jack Della Maddalena.
Speaking at a recent media day, Buckley acknowledged the business aspect of mixed martial arts, recognizing Makhachev`s significant profile from the lightweight division makes him a logical choice for a title opportunity. Despite this, Buckley is focused on his upcoming performance, stating he will “let my performance speak for itself” and be ready for any future opportunities, including potentially facing Makhachev.
Buckley predicts Islam Makhachev will defeat Della Maddalena to claim the welterweight title. While Buckley expressed interest in facing Makhachev if he wins and remains at 170 pounds, he harbors doubts about Makhachev`s long-term presence in the division, or even in the sport, should he become a double champion.
“I truly believe if Islam is able to win that 170 (pound) title, he’s going to move,” Buckley speculated. He elaborated that Makhachev would have achieved his goals, suggesting he might retire to protect his legacy and impressive win streak rather than risk potential losses in a new weight class. Buckley sees Makhachev`s potential move up as a strategic step primarily aimed at cementing his name in history before potentially retiring.
Having found considerable success since moving to welterweight, going undefeated with multiple stoppage wins, Buckley is confident in his own abilities and the competitiveness of his division. He downplayed the idea of Makhachev being a significant, enduring threat to the welterweight landscape, calling it “the deepest weight class that you can get into right now.”
Buckley highlighted the caliber of talent currently at welterweight, mentioning fighters like Ian Garry, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and Sean Brady. He concluded that if Makhachev intends to stay in the division, he will need to “definitely going to have to prove to the world that he’s ready for this division, period,” emphasizing the tough challenges that lie ahead beyond the initial title fight.
