Tag: Joaquin Buckley

UFC Rankings Report: Colby Covington On The Brink Of Top 10 Exit After Tampa Defeat

As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away. And in the aftermath of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Tampa, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings. Men’s Pound-For-Pound: No changes. Women’s Pound-for-Pound: No changes. Women’s Strawweight: No changes. Women’s […]

As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away.

And in the aftermath of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Tampa, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

Men’s Pound-For-Pound: No changes.

Women’s Pound-for-Pound: No changes.

Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

Women’s Flyweight: Miranda Maverick didn’t perform as she had hoped on Saturday night, but she still got the job done over Jamey-Lyn Horth and has returned to the UFC rankings as a result. She’s now at #15, with her entry pushing out Casey O’Neill entirely.

Women’s Bantamweight: No changes.

Flyweight: Manel Kape was among the biggest winners to emerge from 2024’s final event, as he put on a show en route to stopping Bruno Silva with strikes in round three. “Starboy” has subsequently climbed three places to #6. The defeated Brazilian, meanwhile, has dropped one spot behind Charles Johnson (#12) to #13.

Bantamweight: No changes.

Featherweight: No changes.

Lightweight: No changes.

Welterweight: The final UFC winner of this year was Joaquin Buckley, who dominated former interim champion Colby Covington to stake his claim for a title eliminator next time out. The victory has seen “New Mansa” surge three places up the ladder to #6. “Chaos” has gone the same distance the other way, leaving him at #9 and on the brink of exiting the division’s top 10.

Middleweight: No changes.

Light Heavyweight: No changes.

Heavyweight: No changes.

You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

Kamaru Usman Gives Frustrated Response To Joaquin Buckley Callout: ‘No One’s Listening To What I’m Saying!’ 

Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is evidently tired of responding to callouts. The latest to have “The Nigerian Nightmare’s” name on his lips was Joaquin Buckley, who included the ex-titleholder among his options for 2025 after emerging victorious from the final UFC main event and fight of this year. After a 5-0 start to […]

Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is evidently tired of responding to callouts.

The latest to have “The Nigerian Nightmare’s” name on his lips was Joaquin Buckley, who included the ex-titleholder among his options for 2025 after emerging victorious from the final UFC main event and fight of this year.

After a 5-0 start to life at 170 pounds, Buckley had the opportunity to climb the ladder into contention in the division by sharing the cage with Colby Covington. “New Mansa” made the most of it, beating up and bloodying “Chaos” through two rounds before a deep cut forced a doctor’s stoppage in the third.

While Buckley was widely ridiculed for his callout of Conor McGregor post-fight earlier this year, he delivered an improved promo this time around by opening up the floor for the audience at Amalie Arena to select their preference for his next fight.

The biggest cheers were when a clash opposite Usman was pitched.

During the latest episode of his Pound 4 Pound podcast alongside fellow former UFC champion Henry Cejudo, Usman reacted to yet another rising welterweight figure expressing interest in a fight.

Suffice to say, the former champ is tired of repeating himself.

“It’s almost like no ones listening to what I’m saying,” Usman said. “No one’s getting what I’m saying. Shavkat, Belal, Ian, Buckley, JDM — I don’t care who it is.

“One thing I won’t do, which is what I’ve done for so long and too much, which is partially why I’m having to take this layoff, is compete when I’m not ready,” Usman continued. “When I am healthy, I don’t care who it is.”

Usman evidently has no qualms about Buckley being his next opponent. Whether the UFC will give the green light for that matchup, however, remains to be seen.

Regardless, “New Mansa” is no doubt in line for a high-profile opponent next time out — one that will give him the chance to stake his claim for a first title shot on MMA’s biggest stage.

4 Fights We Need to See After UFC on ESPN 63

Joaquin Buckley can no longer be denied. Once a hot-and-cold middleweight, he is now 6-0 as a welterweight, with wins over a number of established contenders.…

Joaquin Buckley can no longer be denied. Once a hot-and-cold middleweight, he is now 6-0 as a welterweight, with wins over a number of established contenders.…

Top MMA Coach Picks Joaquin Buckley As ‘Fighter Of The Year’ Over Alex Pereira & Ilia Topuria

Coach Eric Nicksick, for one, has been extremely impressed by UFC welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley’s efforts in 2024. Buckley closed out his year in style on Saturday night when he headlined the final event of 2024. Opposite him inside Tampa’s Amalie Arena was former interim champion Colby Covington, who planned on placing his name back […]

Coach Eric Nicksick, for one, has been extremely impressed by UFC welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley’s efforts in 2024.

Buckley closed out his year in style on Saturday night when he headlined the final event of 2024. Opposite him inside Tampa’s Amalie Arena was former interim champion Colby Covington, who planned on placing his name back into title contention a year on from a third failed bid for undisputed status.

“Chaos” didn’t succeed in that ambition, however, with Buckley dominating him in the opening two rounds before a deep cut sustained just above Covington’s right eye proved too bad for him to continue.

With the result, “New Mansa” has gone 4-0 this year, having previously knocked out Vicente Luque, outpointed Nursulton Ruziboev, and stopped Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.

And according to Nicksick, that’s elevated him not only into the “Fighter of the Year” discussion, but above both consensus leading candidates Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria.

“Real talk, @Newmansa94 (Buckley) resurrection needs to be studied,” Nicksick wrote on X. “6-0 in a new division w/ 4 stoppages, 4-0 in 2024. Ladies and Gentlemen, he’s your 2024 Fighter of the Year. I’m out”

Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight kingpin, has staked his claim with three title defenses in 2024. After knockouts of Jamahal Hill and Ji?í Procházka, “Poatan” most recently came from behind to batter Khalil Rountree in round four of their headline battle this past October.

Topuria, meanwhile, seemingly has the edge over the Brazilian in terms of competition level. Though he’s fought once less than Pereira, the Spaniard dethroned the highly regarded Alexander Volkanovski in brutal fashion before becoming the first man to knock out Max Holloway to retain the featherweight gold.

But taking into account his career revival since dropping to 170 pounds, Buckley appears to have the vote of one renowned trainer in the fight game.

Joaquin Buckley Brutalizes Colby Covington En Route to Doctor’s Stoppage TKO – UFC Tampa Highlights

Joaquin Buckley vs. Colby Covington - UFC Tampa HighlightsJoaquin Buckley put an absolute beating on Colby Covington, forcing the cageside physician to step in and bring a…

Joaquin Buckley vs. Colby Covington - UFC Tampa Highlights

Joaquin Buckley put an absolute beating on Colby Covington, forcing the cageside physician to step in and bring a stop to the bout late in the third round.

In the opening round of their UFC Tampa headliner, ‘New Mansa’ managed to stuff every one of Covington’s feeble takedown attempts and caught the three-time title challengers with a nasty shot that opened up a cut just over Covington’s left eye.

gettyimages 2190012682 612x612 1

Despite the injury, Covington delivered a decent second round where he managed to muscle Buckley down to the mat, but was unable to capitalize on the favorable position. Following the end of the second stanza, the cageside physician made it clear that she wouldn’t let the fight go much longer with Covington’s eye already in a compromised state.

The third round saw Buckley continue his dominance on the feel while Covington desperately tried to work ‘New Mansa’ back to the mat. Before long, Covington logged another successful takedown, but Buckley was again able to wall-walk his way back up.

gettyimages 2190013001 612x612 1

Once the two fighters were upright, referee Dan Miragliotta called for a pause to have the doctor check Covington’s eye once again. It only took seconds for her to determine that Covington should not continue fighting, forcing Miragliotta to bring a stop to the bout with only seconds left in the third.

gettyimages 2190013403 612x612 1
gettyimages 2190013717 612x612 1

Official Result: Joaquin Buckley def. Colby Covington via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) at 4:42 of Round 3

Check Out Highlights From Joaquin Buckley vs. Colby Covington at UFC Tampa:

‘Perfect End To His Silly Career’ – Fans React As Colby Covington Gets Battered By Joaquin Buckley At UFC Tampa

Joaquin Buckley added to the woes of Colby Covington on Saturday night, battering the former interim welterweight champion in the main event of UFC Tampa. Buckley clearly took the opening round, stopping every takedown attempt from Covington and damaging his eye, including a knockdown of “Chaos” late in the round. The rising contender continued to […]

Joaquin Buckley added to the woes of Colby Covington on Saturday night, battering the former interim welterweight champion in the main event of UFC Tampa.

Buckley clearly took the opening round, stopping every takedown attempt from Covington and damaging his eye, including a knockdown of “Chaos” late in the round. The rising contender continued to land well in the second round, and while he was taken down once, “New Mansa” managed to work his way up with strength and still showed strong defense.

Covington, who was warned about the cut around his eye that had been busted up over two rounds, continued to be battered as the fight entered the third. Even when the fight was on the ground, Buckley’s attack showed no sign of slowing, targeting that cut.

In the midst of the third round, the doctor was called in to check on the cut and ruled that Covington could no longer safely continue.

This marked Buckley’s sixth straight win and perhaps his biggest since a viral knockout of Impa Kasaganay. This most likely will give him a top-five contender as his next opponent.

Covington, meanwhile, has now lost three of his last four. This was his first fight in almost exactly one year since his unsuccessful challenge of then-UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards at UFC 296.