Joaquin Buckley Eyes Title Shot After Big Wins in Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia – A new wave of contenders is rising in the UFC welterweight division, and Joaquin Buckley is eager to join their ranks. Over the past year, several veterans have struggled, paving the way for younger fighters to make their mark.

Ranked #7 in the UFC welterweight category, Buckley is coming off impressive victories, having defeated top fighters Colby Covington and Stephen Thompson by TKO. He is set to face former champion Jack Della Maddalena in the main event this Saturday, aiming to secure a shot for the title.

“I expect to come out of Atlanta as a title contender,” Buckley stated confidently, as he plans to challenge Della Maddalena for the championship belt. However, it is understood that Della Maddalena is likely to defend his title against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev next.

Buckley, who believes he is on another level compared to fighters like Kamaru Usman and others in his weight class, took part in a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri. When asked about the best fighter in the world, Buckley did not hesitate to mention his rival, Ian Garry, who currently holds the #6 rank.

“To be honest with you, I’m putting Ian Garry as number one,” Buckley said. “He’s a smart fighter. Stylistically, I will have to chase him down at all times, which makes him dangerous.” Garry has a professional record of 16-1 and is known for securing notable wins against fighters like Geoff Neal.

In his assessment of the welterweight landscape, Buckley ranked fighters as follows: “I’ll put Shavkat Rakhmonov second. JDM (Jack Della Maddalena) third, and Sean Brady last.” Brady, now ranked #2 after submitting former champion Leon Edwards in March, was criticized by Buckley for his prior TKO loss.

“I mean, come on now. You got knocked out by pillow hands,” Buckley remarked, referencing Brady’s performance in 2022. “He’d be my easiest fight. Promise you.” Buckley is hungry for action as he heads into the main event this weekend in Atlanta.