Joaquin Buckley

Overview

Eight UFC wins by knockout, zero by submission, and not one of them in the first round. Joaquin Buckley's finishes arrive in the second and third, never the opening round, and the pattern holds across all eight.

The southpaw from STL Boxing is 11-7 in the UFC at welterweight, part of a 21-9-0 professional record across all promotions. He carries a three-fight losing streak into his next bout, and that run sits right after the best stretch of his UFC career.

UFC Career

Buckley debuted in August 2020 with a third-round TKO loss to Kevin Holland at 0:32. He answered with back-to-back second-round knockouts of Impa Kasanganay and Jordan Wright, the second one at 0:18 of the round. A first-round TKO loss to Alessio Di Chirico followed in January 2021.

From there came the long climb. Wins over Antonio Arroyo, Abdul Razak Alhassan (split decision) and Albert Duraev were interrupted by a unanimous decision loss to Nassourdine Imavov and a second-round TKO loss to Chris Curtis, an opponent our model rates as strong.

Then the run that defines him. Six straight wins, his longest streak: Andre Fialho, Alex Morono, Vicente Luque, Nursulton Ruziboev, Stephen Thompson and Colby Covington. Luque is the one elite opponent he has beaten, a second-round TKO in March 2024. Covington came in the main event in December 2024, ending at 4:42 of the third.

The next step was a five-round main event against Kamaru Usman, another elite opponent, and Buckley lost a unanimous decision. Sean Brady, also elite, took another unanimous decision at UFC 328. Then Mike Malott stopped him in the second round of a main event.

Three straight losses, all to elite-level opposition. Eleven wins, eight of them knockouts.

Fighting Style

Buckley is a hard-to-hit striker who is very difficult to take down. He lands at a pace close to the UFC average, but his shots don't find the target as often as most fighters' do, while he takes less damage than most and avoids a lot of what comes back at him. His takedown defense is a clear strength, and he goes for takedowns at about an average rate.

He rarely hunts for submissions, and none of his wins have come that way.

The finishing pattern is consistent. All eight of his finishes are knockouts, with five coming in round two and three in round three, and none in round one. He has also won three fights by decision and lost three that way.

Notable Wins

• Vicente Luque — KO/TKO, round 2 (3:17), UFC Fight Night: Blanchfield vs. Fiorot (2024)
• Colby Covington — KO/TKO, round 3 (4:42), UFC Fight Night: Covington vs Buckley (2024)
• Stephen Thompson — KO/TKO, round 3 (2:17), UFC 307 (2024)
• Alex Morono — unanimous decision, round 3, UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green (2023)

Quick Facts

• Division: Welterweight
• UFC record: 11-7 (8 KO/TKO wins, 3 decisions)
• Professional record: 21-9-0 (all promotions)
• UFC debut: August 2020
• Stance: Southpaw
• Height / reach: 5'10" / 76"
• Team: STL Boxing
• Born: Missouri, United States