Joaquin Buckley anticipates Islam Makhachev will become the UFC welterweight champion. However, Buckley predicts that if the former lightweight king decides to remain in the division, he will face numerous difficult challenges.
Buckley is scheduled to fight former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC Atlanta this Saturday. “New Mansa” believes that a victory in this bout will establish him as the number one contender in the division, although he acknowledges that Makhachev is set to receive the next title shot against the current champion, Jack Della Maddalena.
At Wednesday`s media day, Buckley stated, “In my personal opinion, this win is going to propel me into the position of being the number one contender.” He also noted, “But obviously, this is a business. Islam has accomplished a great deal in the lightweight division. He is a huge name, and it makes sense for the UFC to offer him the opportunity to compete for the belt.”
Buckley continued, “Despite that, I am going to let my performance speak for itself because many unpredictable things happen in the fight business… If that situation occurs, `Buck` will be prepared for the opportunity when it arises.”
Buckley is predicting that Makhachev will defeat Della Maddalena. Should Buckley also be victorious over Usman on Saturday, he expressed interest in the possibility of facing the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world inside the octagon.
Nevertheless, Buckley does not envision Makhachev staying in the division for an extended period—or even remaining in the UFC if he captures a second divisional title.
“I would embrace the fight, but I don`t think Islam would,” Buckley explained. “I genuinely believe that if Islam succeeds in winning the 170-pound title, he will move on. He will have achieved everything he aimed for. Why would he stay and risk potentially losing that winning streak? I don`t think so.”
Buckley added, “I think he is primarily focused on solidifying his legacy—this is essentially a move for historical achievement—and once he secures that welterweight belt, I expect him to retire eventually.”
Buckley holds a 6-0 record in the UFC since transitioning to the welterweight division and had a dominant 4-0 year in 2024, securing stoppage victories against notable opponents including Vicente Luque, Stephen Thompson, and Colby Covington. While Buckley is confident in his abilities and recent form, he is certain that if Makhachev opts to stay at 170 pounds, he will ultimately regret it.
“Islam is not a major threat to the welterweight division,” Buckley asserted. “This is currently the most competitive weight class, featuring fighters not only like myself but also talents such as Ian Garry, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and Sean Brady. Islam will definitely need to prove to the world that he is prepared for this division, simple as that.”
