Undefeated at welterweight, Joaquin Buckley is in a chief spot for his future.
His win over Colby Covington places Buckley among the many new elite of 170. However the win isn’t sufficient and there’s extra work to be achieved.
Who would be the subsequent opponent for Joaquin Buckley? Let’s have a look at just a few choices!
Joaquin Buckley needs Kamaru Usman
In his publish battle interview, Joaquin Buckley gave out three choices of which Kamaru Usman was determined the subsequent selection.
Joaquin Buckley calls out Kamaru Usman 👀 #UFC307 pic.twitter.com/I8GRrSZEUL
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 6, 2024
Kamaru Usman could be the largest identify and the largest problem for Buckley so far. Usman is the previous welterweight champion and the previous pound for pound king.
The issue with the Usman battle is that he’s outdated and properly previous his prime. A win wouldn’t be price that rather more than wins like Covington, Thompson, and Luque. Buckley can profit, but it surely doesn’t show the place the American is at ability smart. Different pastures might higher show that.
The battle that would have been
Earlier than Ian Macado Garry took on Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310, the Irishman was initially scheduled to face Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa. When Belal Muhammad pulled out, Garry was tapped to interchange Muhammad in a title eliminator and Buckley took on Colby Covington on brief discover.
As talked about, Buckley struggles with being thought of the elite (Rakhmonov, Garry, Maddelena). If Buckley needs to be part of the cool children membership, he must beat somebody within the cool children membership.
Ian Garry is that identify. If Joaquin Buckley can get in there and run that battle that ought to have been, after which beat him, he may gain advantage from a lift in recognition. That’s an enormous “if.”
The perfect logical possibility
Pitched in that publish battle callout that didn’t get a lot fanfare was Leon Edwards. Throwing Muhammad apart in lieu of the Muhammad-Rakhmonov battle, Joaquin Buckley will doubtless desire a battle within the meantime. Edwards is the most suitable choice logically.
Edwards is a former champion and a primary contender at welterweight. He’s really elite, having beat prime Kamaru Usman, and nonetheless has lots to provide. Leon Edwards additionally supplies check with a artful striker who isn’t outdated and over the hill.
Ought to Joaquin Buckley beat Leon Edwards, he may get the nod for a title shot with the winner of Belal Muhammad and Shavkat Rakhmonov.
