Joaquin Buckley Eyes Title Shot at UFC Atlanta This Weekend

ATLANTA, Ga. — Joaquin Buckley is poised to become a welterweight title contender in the UFC. This Saturday, he faces off against former champion Kamaru Usman in a high-stakes match at UFC Atlanta.

Over the past year, the welterweight division has experienced a significant shift, with established fighters like Usman and others losing to rising contenders. Buckley, currently ranked #7 in the UFC welterweight class, has climbed the ranks after securing TKO victories over prominent fighters like Colby Covington and Stephen Thompson.

“I expect to come out of Atlanta as a title contender,” Buckley said. His ambition is clear: he aims to challenge current champion Jack Della Maddalena, who is likely to defend his title against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev next.

Despite his aspirations, Buckley acknowledges the strong competition in the division. In a recent interview with CBS Sports, he expressed his belief that Ian Garry, the #6-ranked fighter, is currently the top contender. “To be honest with you, I put Ian Garry as number one. He’s a smart fighter,” Buckley stated.

Machado Garry holds a professional record of 16-1, including a 9-1 stint in the UFC. He has notable victories over fighters like Geoff Neal. Garry’s only defeat was a loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 on short notice last year.

Buckley ranked Shavkat as second best among welterweight contenders, followed by champion Jack Della Maddalena at third, and Sean Brady in fourth. Buckley has been critical of Brady’s standing, referencing a previous TKO loss he suffered in 2022.

“I mean, come on now. You got knocked out by pillow hands,” Buckley remarked, asserting his belief that he would have an easier fight against Brady. “I truly believe that,” he added.

As Buckley prepares for his pivotal matchup at UFC Atlanta, all eyes will be on whether he can secure a victory and inch closer to a title shot.