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Islam Makhachev vs. welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena? Not so fast, says Joaquin Buckley.

“New Mansa” faces Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC Atlanta this Saturday and he’s hopeful that a win over the former welterweight king vaults him into the No. 1 contender spot. In six appearances at 170 pounds, Buckley is undefeated, with recent wins over Colby Covington and Stephen Thompson.

Unfortunately for Buckley, the UFC has already made it clear that Della Maddalena’s first title defense is expected to be against Makhachev, the Pound-for-Pound No. 1 fighter in the world that is set to vacate his lightweight belt to chase a second championship.

Still, Buckley remains undeterred.

“You already know once we beat Kamaru Usman, it’s title time,” Buckley said on his Buck What You Heard show. “It’s time to go get my belt. There’s no other person that’s been doing what I’ve been doing in the roster. I don’t really like to talk about other people and their careers, but like I said, mine’s been unmatched with not just having 15 fights within the promotion within five years, but as well going undefeated in the welterweight division. Also, knocking out every ranked opponent and like I said, might get my fourth knockout of my ranked opponent in Kamaru Usman.

“You can’t name another guy that’s doing something like that. So once I beat Kamaru Usman, there is no debate, there is no back-and-forth, there is no argument. We up next. You already know we got this guy from 155 coming up thinking he going to take my spot. Nah, we can’t have it. I truly believe that with everything that’s coming, the ‘JDM’ and Islam fight is not a massive fight to make. JDM is the world champion right now, but I truly believe that Islam’s got to sit back and just wait for me to get my title because I will be the hardest fight that Islam has.”

Buckley doesn’t just think he deserves the opportunity more than Makhachev because of what he’s accomplished in the weight class. He also thinks he has every tool to defeat Makhachev should it come to that.

“He’s not going to out-wrestle me,” Buckley said. “He’s not going to submit me, I’ve never been submitted in my career. And he’s definitely not going to stand on the feet with me. If the people want to see it, it’s going to be made.

“I already know that the fan base, they know what JDM’s about, they know what he’s good at, what he struggles at. That’s a toss-up for Islam. Don’t get it twisted, if Islam does get blessed with that title shot and he does beat JDM, he’s not going to stay there. He’s going to retire. He’s going to get up out of there quick because he knows he’s not a natural 170 fighter. And especially with myself, he definitely going to run from a person like me. So before that even happens, I’ve got to make sure I get myself to that belt. But you already know, the world ain’t fair, sometimes you don’t get what you deserve. So this is why we’ve got to demand it. We’ve got to go after it and we’ve got to take it.”

Buckley isn’t looking past Usman, the former champion who strung together five consecutive title defenses before dropping the belt in 2022. It’s his respect for Usman that has him feeling like he’ll either score a finish that makes him the undeniable No. 1 contender or the two will put on a fight for the ages.

“When I fight Kamaru Usman, there’s only two ways how it’s going to finish,” Buckley said. “We’re either going to be knocking out Kamaru Usman or this is going to be Fight of the Night. That’s the only two options.

“I feel like in my heart, Kamaru Usman, him being former world champion, him about to be a future Hall of Famer, I’m already knowing that he’s putting in that type of work. But if he’s not, then he’s definitely getting knocked out come June 14.”

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Joaquin Buckley could repeat his famous knockout of Impa Kasanganay this Saturday and we all know he’s still not getting that title shot over Islam Makhachev.

Still, the question can be asked…

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