Undefeated at welterweight, Joaquin Buckley is in a primary 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 finished.
Who would be the subsequent opponent for Joaquin Buckley? Let’s take 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 following selection.
Joaquin Buckley calls out Kamaru Usman 👀 #UFC307 pic.twitter.com/I8GRrSZEUL
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 6, 2024
Kamaru Usman can be the largest title 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 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 sensible. Different pastures might higher show that.
The battle that might 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-about 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 title. 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 reputation. That’s an enormous “if.”
One of the best logical choice
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 possible need 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 actually elite, having beat prime Kamaru Usman, and nonetheless has lots to offer. Leon Edwards additionally offers 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.
