Joaquin Buckley

Joaquin Yuconri Buckley ( whah-KEEN; born April 27, 1994) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2014, he has also formerly competed for Bellator MMA and Legacy Fighting Alliance. As of December 17, 2024, he is #6 in the UFC welterweight rankings.

Background

Buckley was born and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. Buckley and his mother lived in his grandmother's house for the most part of his youth. Buckley's mother passed away due to a heart condition when he was in the sixth grade. He started wrestling at Marquette High School, growing interested in mixed martial arts, and eventually started training in it after graduating.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Starting his professional career in 2014, Buckley compiled a 10–2 record fighting for Shamrock FC, Bellator MMA, and Legacy Fighting Alliance. During that time, he most notably faced Logan Storley on April 13, 2018, at Bellator 197. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. After two straight TKO wins in LFA, Buckley was signed to the UFC.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Buckley made his UFC debut against Kevin Holland on August 8, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 174, just one week after picking up a win in LFA. He lost the fight via technical knockout in round three.

A middleweight bout between Abu Azaitar and Joaquin Buckley was expected to take place on October 11, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen. However, Azaitar pulled out on September 26 due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Impa Kasanganay. Buckley won the bout via knockout in the second round in spectacular fashion. Kasanganay grabbed his foot after Buckley threw a left body kick. Buckley then jumped off the trapped leg and connected a spinning back kick to the head, knocking Kasanganay out cold. For this knockout, Buckley not only earned the Performance of the Night bonus, but the video of his knockout win went viral on the internet. The UFC tweet with the video was the most-liked (359,000), most-retweeted (143,000), and most-viewed (12.8 million) tweet in UFC history. The knockout became the UFC's most-watched Instagram video ever with over 17.8 million views. Across three tweets, three Instagram posts, four Facebook posts, and a TikTok video, the Buckley knockout video has generated more than 65 million views and 83 million impressions for the UFC. Rapper Kanye West even used the footage of the knockout to promote the release of a new song.

In a quick return to the Octagon, Buckley faced Jordan Wright at UFC 255 on November 21, 2020. He won the fight via knockout in round two. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Buckley faced Alessio Di Chirico on January 16, 2021, at UFC on ABC 1. He lost the fight in the first round via a head kick knockout.

Buckley faced Antônio Arroyo on September 18, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann. He won the fight via knockout in round three. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Buckley was scheduled to face Abdul Razak Alhassan on January 15, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 32. However, the pairing was cancelled after Alhassan withdrew for undisclosed reasons and the pair was rescheduled to UFC Fight Night 201. Buckley won the fight via split decision. Of the 16 media pundits scoring the fight, 7 scored it in favor of Buckley, 8 scored in favor of Alhassan, and 1 scored it a draw.

Buckley was scheduled to face Abusupiyan Magomedov on June 4, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 207. However, the bout was cancelled for unknown reasons.

Buckley faced Albert Duraev on June 18, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 37. He won the fight via TKO before the third round after the ringside doctor stopped the fight due to Duraev's eye swelling shut. This win earned him his fourth Performance of the Night award.

Buckley faced Nassourdine Imavov on September 3, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 209. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Buckley faced Chris Curtis on December 10, 2022, at UFC 282. He lost the fight via technical knockout in round two.

Buckley faced André Fialho on May 20, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 223. He won the fight via technical knockout in round two.

Buckley faced Alex Morono on October 7, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 229. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Buckley faced Vicente Luque on March 30, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 54, as a replacement for an injured Sean Brady. He won the fight via technical knockout in round two.

Buckley faced Nursulton Ruziboev on May 11, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 56. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Buckley faced former UFC Welterweight Championship title challenger Stephen Thompson on October 5, 2024 at UFC 307. He won the fight by knockout in the third round. This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.

Buckley was scheduled to face Ian Machado Garry on December 14, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 63. However, Garry was pulled to fight Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 and was replaced by former interim champion Colby Covington. Buckley won the fight by technical knockout as a result of a doctor stoppage due to a cut above Covington's eye in the third round.

Championships and accomplishments

Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (Five times) vs. Impa Kasanganay, Jordan Wright, Albert Duraev, Antônio Arroyo and Stephen Thompson
- UFC Honors Awards
  - 2020: President's Choice Performance of the Year Winner vs. Impa Kasanganay & Fan's Choice Knockout of the Year Winner vs. Impa Kasanganay
- UFC.com Awards
  - 2020: Knockout of the Year vs. Impa Kasanganay & Ranked #2 Newcomer of the Year
  - 2024: Ranked #9 Fighter of the Year

MMAjunkie.com
- 2020 October Knockout of the Month vs. Impa Kasanganay
- 2020 Knockout of the Year vs. Impa Kasanganay
MMA Fighting, Bleacher Report, MMA Mania, CombatPress.com, Cageside Press, BT Sport, Sherdog, MMA Weekly
- 2020 Knockout of the Year vs. Impa Kasanganay
World MMA Awards
- 2021 Knockout of the Year vs. Impa Kasanganay at UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen^