Buckley (21-6 MMA, 11-4 UFC) entered 2024 2-0 after dropping back down to 170 pounds. He kicked the year off with a big finish of perennial contender Vicente Luque at UFC on ESPN 54 in March, and campaigned for a spot at UFC on ESPN 56, which took place in his home state of Missouri in May.
Buckley got his wish, drawing streaking contender Nursulton Ruziboev in the co-main event. “New Mansa” prevailed once again, showing an impressive display of grappling and striking throughout the fight.
The win over Ruziboev earned Buckley his biggest opportunity to date, a matchup against former title challenger Stephen Thompson at UFC 307. Buckley came up big by scoring a third-round Performance of the Night knockout of “Wonderboy.”
To cap off his banner year, Buckley headlined his first UFC event against former interim champion Colby Covington. After a dominant first two rounds at UFC on ESPN 63 earlier this month, Buckley scored a doctor’s stoppage TKO win at the end of Round 3, after opening up a cut on Covington’s right eyelid.
Prior to his viral knockout of Impa Kasanganay in his second UFC fight in October 2020, Buckley was asked by MMA Junkie if he’d consider welterweight again.
“Both, I mean I’m trying to be like Khamzat Chimaev, fight at 170 or 185,” Buckley responded. “For real, but I would love to go back down to 170. It’s a lot of easy meals down at 170, I feel like there are a lot of good fights for me down at 170, but I don’t mind fighting at 185 because it’s not a major cut and it’s not a lot of damage being put on my body.
“So, that’s the only benefit at 185 right now for me because I don’t have to cut so much weight, but 170 is my home. That’s the majority of my fights are at 170 so, I’d like to continue my career at 170 on a serious level. …I started my career at 170, and I always wanted to capture a belt at 170.”
After ending 2022 with two-straight knockout losses, Buckley sought new life at welterweight. He is 6-0 since moving back down to 170 pounds, and is on the cusp of title contention after going 4-0 in 2024.
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This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: MMA Junkie’s 2024 Breakout Fighter of the Year: Joaquin Buckley
