Undefeated at welterweight, Joaquin Buckley is in a main 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 performed.
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 put up battle interview, Joaquin Buckley gave out three choices of which Kamaru Usman was determined the following selection.
Joaquin Buckley calls out Kamaru Usman 👀 #UFC307 pic.twitter.com/I8GRrSZEUL
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 6, 2024
Kamaru Usman can be the most important identify and the most important problem for Buckley up to now. Usman is the previous welterweight champion and the previous pound for pound king.
The issue with the Usman battle is that he’s previous and properly previous his prime. A win wouldn’t be value that rather more than wins like Covington, Thompson, and Luque. Buckley can profit, however it doesn’t show the place the American is at ability clever. 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 exchange 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 benefit from a lift in recognition. That’s an enormous “if.”
The very best logical possibility
Pitched in that put up 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 possible need a battle within the meantime. Edwards is the best choice logically.
Edwards is a former champion and a primary contender at welterweight. He’s actually elite, having beat prime Kamaru Usman, and nonetheless has lots to provide. Leon Edwards additionally gives a very good check with a artful striker who isn’t previous 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.
