Gabriel Bonfim has made it clear he’s not waiting around. After calling out Colby Covington multiple times with no response, the rising Brazilian contender is now turning his attention to another big name in the welterweight division — Joaquin Buckley.
Following his impressive win over Randy Brown at UFC Vegas 111, Bonfim told MMA Fighting that he’s ready to face whoever steps up next. “I called out Colby, but Joaquin Buckley is also available,” Bonfim said. “If Colby doesn’t accept, then it’s Joaquin Buckley. If Colby does, it’s Colby. I’ll take either one.”
Bonfim has quietly built one of the strongest résumés among UFC welterweights. With 19 wins in 20 professional bouts and a 6-1 record inside the Octagon, he’s finished four of those opponents and earned three post-fight bonuses along the way. His aggressive style and submission skills have made him a dangerous name in the top 10 conversation.
Buckley, on the other hand, was on a six-fight winning streak before losing to former champ Kamaru Usman in June. Despite that setback, his resume includes big wins over Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson and Vicente Luque. But Bonfim isn’t impressed, especially after Buckley’s recent social media antics. “He’s starting to get a little desperate, chasing hype,” Bonfim said, referring to Buckley’s recent attempt to call out Alex Pereira. “Poatan kills him, no chance.”
Bonfim praised Usman’s performance against Buckley, saying it showed the kind of strategy and composure he respects. Still, he sees Buckley as a solid matchup if Covington remains quiet. “He’s coming off a loss to Usman and might take the fight,” Bonfim added.
The Brazilian also gave his predictions for upcoming fights, picking Islam Makhachev to dethrone Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322, and backing Sean Brady, Carlos Prates, and Ian Machado Garry in their upcoming bouts.
Outside of his own future, Bonfim spoke about his brother Ismael, saying the two have decided not to fight on the same card anymore. “We’re focusing on one of us at a time,” he explained. “He’s got two fights left on his contract, so we want to make sure he gets back on track.”
Whether it’s Covington or Buckley, Gabriel Bonfim looks ready for the biggest test of his career — and he’s not afraid to call anyone out to get it.
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