Joaquin Buckley

Joaquin Yuconri Buckley ( ; born April 27, 1994) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2014, he has also formerly competed for Bellator MMA and Legacy Fighting Alliance. As of June 20, 2026, he is #9 in the Meta UFC welterweight rankings.

Background Buckley was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He started wrestling at Marquette High School, growing interested in mixed martial arts, and eventually started training in it after graduating.

Mixed martial arts career Early career Starting his professional career in 2014, Buckley compiled a 10–2 record fighting for Shamrock FC, Bellator MMA, and Legacy Fighting Alliance. During that time, he most notably faced Logan Storley on April 13, 2018, at Bellator 197. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. After two straight TKO wins in LFA, Buckley was signed to the UFC.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Buckley made his UFC debut against Kevin Holland on August 8, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 174, just one week after picking up a win in LFA. He lost the fight via technical knockout in round three.

A middleweight bout between Abu Azaitar and Joaquin Buckley was expected to take place on October 11, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 179. However, Azaitar pulled out on September 26 due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Impa Kasanganay. Buckley won the bout via knockout in the second round in spectacular fashion. Kasanganay grabbed his foot after Buckley threw a left body kick. Buckley then jumped off the trapped leg and connected a spinning back kick to the head, knocking Kasanganay out cold. For this knockout, Buckley not only earned the Performance of the Night bonus, but the video of his knockout win went viral on the internet. The UFC tweet with the video was the most-liked (359,000), most-retweeted (143,000), and most-viewed (12.8 million) tweet in UFC history. The knockout became the UFC's most-watched Instagram video ever with over 17.8 million views. Across three tweets, three Instagram posts, four Facebook posts, and a TikTok video, the Buckley knockout video has generated more than 65 million views and 83 million impressions for the UFC. Rapper Kanye West even used the footage of the knockout to promote the release of a new song.

In a quick return to the Octagon, Buckley faced Jordan Wright at UFC 255 on November 21, 2020. He won the fight via knockout in round two. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Buckley faced Alessio Di Chirico on January 16, 2021, at UFC on ABC 1. He lost the fight in the first round via a head kick knockout.

Buckley faced Antônio Arroyo on September 18, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 192. He won the fight via knockout in round three. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Buckley was scheduled to face Abdul Razak Alhassan on January 15, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 32. However, the pairing was cancelled after Alhassan withdrew for undisclosed reasons and the pair was rescheduled to UFC Fight Night 201. Buckley won the fight via split decision. Of the 16 media pundits scoring the fight, 7 scored it in favor of Buckley, 8 scored in favor of Alhassan, and 1 scored it a draw.

Buckley was scheduled to face Abusupiyan Magomedov on June 4, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 207. However, the bout was cancelled for unknown reasons.

Buckley faced Albert Duraev on June 18, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 37. This win earned him his fourth Performance of the Night award.

Buckley faced Nassourdine Imavov on September 3, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 209. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Buckley faced Chris Curtis on December 10, 2022, at UFC 282. He lost the fight via technical knockout in round two.

Buckley faced André Fialho on May 20, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 223. He won the fight via technical knockout in round two.

Buckley faced Alex Morono on October 7, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 229. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Buckley faced Vicente Luque on March 30, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 54, as a replacement for an injured Sean Brady. He won the fight via technical knockout in round two.

Buckley faced Nursulton Ruziboev on May 11, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 56. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Buckley faced former UFC Welterweight Championship title challenger Stephen Thompson on October 5, 2024 at UFC 307. He won the fight by knockout in the third round. This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.

Buckley was scheduled to face Ian Machado Garry on December 14, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 63. However, Garry was pulled to fight Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 and was replaced by former interim champion Colby Covington. Buckley won the fight by technical knockout as a result of a doctor stoppage due to a cut above Covington's eye in the third round.

Buckley faced former UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman in the main event on June 14, 2025, at UFC on ESPN 69. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. This fight earned him a Fight of the Night award.

Buckley was scheduled to face Sean Brady on April 25, 2026 in the main event at UFC Fight Night 274. However, the bout was moved to UFC 328 on May 9, 2026 for undisclosed reasons. Buckley lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Buckley is scheduled to face Mike Malott in the main event on October 17, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 291.

Freestyle wrestling career

Buckley made his debut for Real American Freestyle at RAF 03 on November 29, 2025, losing to Pat Downey.

He is scheduled to face Tyron Woodley at RAF 12 on August 22, 2026.

Championships and accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (One time) & Fan's Choice Knockout of the Year Winner UFC.com Awards 2020: Knockout of the Year & Ranked #2 Newcomer of the Year 2024: Ranked #9 Fighter of the Year Combat Press 2024 Breakout Fighter of the Year MMA Junkie 2020 October Knockout of the Month vs. Impa Kasanganay 2024 Breakout Fighter of the Year MMA Fighting 2024 Second Team MMA All-Star MMA Mania 2024 #4 Ranked Fighter of the Year MMA Fighting, Bleacher Report, MMA Mania, MMA Junkie, Combat Press, Cageside Press, BT Sport, Sherdog, MMA Weekly, MMA Sucka, Bloody Elbow, CBS Sports, ESPN 2020 Knockout of the Year vs. Impa Kasanganay World MMA Awards 2021 Knockout of the Year vs. Impa Kasanganay at UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen Voting period for 2021 awards ran through July 2020 to July 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Sean Brady Decision (unanimous) UFC 328

Newark, New Jersey, United States Loss

Kamaru Usman Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Usman vs. Buckley

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Win

Colby Covington TKO (doctor stoppage) UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Buckley

Tampa, Florida, United States Win

Stephen Thompson KO (punch) UFC 307

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Win

Nursulton Ruziboev Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Nascimento

St. Louis, Missouri, United States Win

Vicente Luque TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Blanchfield vs. Fiorot

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Alex Morono Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

André Fialho TKO (head kick) UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Chris Curtis KO (punches) UFC 282

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Nassourdine Imavov Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa

Paris, France Win

Albert Duraev TKO (doctor stoppage) UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Emmett

Austin, Texas, United States Win

Abdul Razak Alhassan Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Hill

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Antônio Arroyo KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Alessio Di Chirico KO (head kick) UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Jordan Wright KO (punches) UFC 255

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Impa Kasanganay KO (spinning back kick) UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Loss

Kevin Holland TKO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Oleinik

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Jackie Gosh TKO (punches) LFA 87

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States Win

Chris Harris TKO (punches) LFA 76

Park City, Kansas, United States Loss

Logan Storley Decision (unanimous) Bellator 197

St. Charles, Missouri, United States Win

Vinicius de Jesus Decision (split) Bellator 185

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Justin Patterson Decision (unanimous) Bellator 175

Rosemont, Illinois, United States Loss

Jackie Gosh TKO (punches) Bellator 164

Tel Aviv, Israel Win

Chris Heatherly KO (knee) Bellator 157: Dynamite 2

St. Louis, Missouri, United States Win

Kyle Kurtz TKO (knee and punches) Shamrock FC: Fuel

St. Louis, Missouri, United States Win

Stacy Bacon Decision (unanimous) Shamrock FC: Throwdown

St. Louis, Missouri, United States Win

Kalel Robinson TKO (punches) Shamrock FC: Showdown

St. Louis, Missouri, United States Win

Bryant West TKO (punches) Shamrock FC: Xtreme Fight Night 2

St. Louis, Missouri, United States Win

Wesley Sullivan TKO (punches) Shamrock FC: Nemesis

St. Louis, Missouri, United States