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 desires Kamaru Usman
In his submit battle interview, Joaquin Buckley gave out three choices of which Kamaru Usman was determined the following alternative.
Joaquin Buckley calls out Kamaru Usman 👀 #UFC307 pic.twitter.com/I8GRrSZEUL
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 6, 2024
Kamaru Usman could be the most important title and the most important problem for Buckley to this point. 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The issue with the Usman battle is that he’s outdated and properly previous his prime.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, 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 switch Muhammad in a title eliminator and Buckley took on Colby Covington on quick discover.
As talked about, Buckley struggles with being thought-about the elite (Rakhmonov, Garry, Maddelena). If Buckley desires to be part of the cool youngsters membership, he must beat somebody within the cool youngsters 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 gain advantage from a lift in recognition. That’s an enormous “if.”
The very best logical possibility
Pitched in that submit 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 really elite, having beat prime Kamaru Usman, and nonetheless has loads to offer. Leon Edwards additionally offers a great check with a artful striker who isn’t outdated and over the hill.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.
