Joaquin Buckley Believes He Deserves Title Shot If He Beats Kamaru Usman

Joaquin Buckley wants to skip Islam Makhachev in the title queue if he beats Kamaru Usman. 

Buckley headlines UFC Atlanta against Usman on Saturday at the State Farm Arena. “New Mansa” is calling for the next welterweight title shot if he beats the former champ on Saturday. 

However, Makhachev, the former lightweight champion, is standing in Buckley’s way. While Makhachev had long been eyeing a welterweight move, his friend Belal Muhammad’s title reign was a hurdle. However, that all changed last month when Muhammad was dethroned by Jack Della Maddalena in an upset at UFC 315 last month. Makhachev immediately confirmed his move to 170 pounds, and UFC CEO Dana White verbally guaranteed him the next title shot. 

Buckley argues that even if Makhachev fights and beats Maddalena, he’s not going to continue at welterweight. Buckley also believes Makhachev will duck him, as he’ll stylistically be a hard matchup for the Dagestani.

“Once I beat Kamaru Usman, there’s no debate, there’s no argument, we up next,” Buckley said on YouTube. “You got this guy from 155 coming up thinking he gonna take my spot… The JDM vs Islam fight is not a massive fight to make… I truly believe that Islam just gotta sit back and wait for me to get my title. Because I will be the hardest fight that Islam has. He’s not gonna outwrestle me, he’s not gonna submit me. I’ve never been submitted in my career. And he definitely not gonna stand on the feet with me.

“…If Islam does beat JDM, he’s not gonna stay there. He’s gonna retire… because he knows he’s not a natural 170 fighter. Especially with myself, he’s definitely gonna run from a person like me.” 

Makhachev defended his lightweight title four times before moving to welterweight. Buckley is riding a six-fight winning streak that includes finishes over Stephen Thompson, Vicente Luque, and, most recently, Colby Covington. Meanwhile, Usman hasn’t fought at welterweight since consecutive title losses against Leon Edwards in 2022 and 2023. That was followed by a majority decision loss in a one-off middleweight outing against Khamzat Chimaev in 2023.