Joaquin Buckley is tired of waiting and even more tired of being ignored. Days before UFC 322 kicks off in New York, the welterweight contender took to his YouTube channel to vent his frustrations about the division, call out several top fighters, and argue that Kamaru Usman deserves the next shot at the 170 pound title.
Buckley, who suffered a decision loss to Usman this past June, still believes the former champion has earned another opportunity at UFC gold. He pointed to Usman’s résumé, his run as welterweight champion, and the respect even Dana White has shown him when discussing the all time greats. Buckley praised Usman for stepping up against Khamzat Chimaev on ten days notice, insisting that a five round fight might have produced a different outcome.
According to Buckley, it doesn’t matter whether Jack Della Maddalena or Islam Makhachev leaves Madison Square Garden with the belt. In his eyes, Usman should be next.
But while he is happy to talk about Usman’s accomplishments, Buckley is frustrated with the silence surrounding his own name. Despite being ranked seventh in the division and previously riding a six fight win streak with victories over Colby Covington, Stephen Thompson, and Vicente Luque, he says no major contenders are calling him out.
“I feel like I’m Voldemort,” Buckley said. “These guys don’t even want to say my name.”
He acknowledged Gabriel Bonfim calling him out recently but said he is looking for bigger names—fighters who can push him closer to a title shot. The name at the top of his personal wishlist is Shavkat Rakhmonov, an undefeated contender who hasn’t competed since December 2024 due to serious knee injuries.
Buckley challenged Rakhmonov directly, telling him to meet him in early 2026 if he is truly ready to return. He believes a win over Shavkat would guarantee him a title opportunity, especially with the division’s biggest stars either booked or avoiding him.
He also threw verbal jabs at ranked fighters like Ian Garry, Sean Brady, and even champion Jack Della Maddalena, claiming that if he were really “easy work,” the division would be lining up to fight him. Instead, Buckley says the silence proves that he is a dangerous matchup for everyone at 170 pounds.
Despite the division’s politics, Buckley remains confident that his effort inside and outside the cage will pay off. He reminded fans that he promotes his fights, does meet and greets, runs seminars, and works harder than anyone in the weight class.
For now, Buckley’s fighting future is still unclear, but he won’t be idle. On November 29, he will step in for an injured Corey Anderson to wrestle Iowa State All American Pat Downey at a Real American Freestyle event. Buckley says the plan is simple: stay active, stay loud, and force the division to stop ignoring him.
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