Joaquin Buckley kept it short and sweet after his beatdown of Colby Covington at UFC Tampa.
It took the welterweight contender 14:42 to batter Covington’s right eye so badly that the ringside physician was forced to wave off the main event fight (watch the highlights here). At the post-fight press conference, Buckley was in and out in a minute flat.
“I feel like my fight shouldn’t have been stopped,” he said regarding the finish. “But it is what it is. You gotta protect the fighters.”
would have kept going in Las Vegas, and we have a hard time imagining Covington holding on for another two rounds.
“2025 is definitely my year, and we definitely taking over. This is a six fight winning streak. I got eight knockouts within the UFC. I feel like I done enough to put myself in a position to fight for that title. And even though I know that Shavkat is next — blessings to that fight — but if anything happens where Shavkat or Belal doesn’t step up into the octagon, I’m willing to face them.”
Regardless of what happens with the upcoming Belal Muhammad vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov welterweight title fight, Buckley made it clear that he wouldn’t be denied. Following his win he called out Kamaru Usman, but it’s clear he has the title on his mind for later next year.
“At the end of the day, we’re gonna keep this nice and short, bro,” he declared. “I’m definitely looking to take that throne, man. 2025, bro. So we out, baby. Thank you.”
And with that “New Mansa” was up and out. Talk about making a statement, in the cage and afterward.
