In a recent conversation about his career trajectory, UFC welterweight fighter Joaquin Buckley opened up about his future in the division and the possibility of facing Ian Garry and Michael ‘Venom’ Page. Buckley, who is currently ranked 11th in the welterweight category, made the switch from middleweight last year and has since secured three consecutive victories. His latest win came in the form of a second-round TKO against Vicente Luque at UFC Atlantic City, a victory that propelled him into the welterweight rankings.
During an exclusive interview, Buckley shared his thoughts on a potential matchup with Garry. After his move to welterweight, Buckley had previously challenged the Irish fighter, who at the time declined the offer, citing a preference to fight opponents ranked higher than himself. However, with Buckley now ranked, the dynamics have changed, making a fight between the two more probable. Buckley commented on the situation, saying, “Yes, so, when he was talking about, he only fights up to ranking. I believe he’s still ranked above Vicente Luque, but it puts me a lot closer to Ian Garry than he would like to be. So, you know, we gonna make Ian Garry a little bit more uncomfortable with me being in the rankings.”
Furthermore, Buckley dismissed the idea of a rematch with Kevin Holland, who had defeated him in his UFC debut. Although both fighters are now in the same division, Buckley expressed a lack of interest in a rematch, preferring instead to face Michael ‘Venom’ Page. Buckley explained his reasoning, stating, “But with now that Kevin Holland is not ranked and he is out of position, it takes that fight up and fight away from me. And with me being ranked now, I’d rather just fight somebody that’s ranked as well. And to be honest with you, I’d rather see MVP in the cage before I see Kevin.”
On a related note, Ian Garry, also known as ‘The Future,’ has set his sights on a bout with Colby Covington. Following his win over Geoff Neal at UFC 298 in February, Garry called out the former UFC interim welterweight champion. Covington reciprocated with a callout video, and the two have been engaging in a social media exchange ever since. Garry confirmed the potential clash in a video, saying, “What’s up everyone, it’s Tuesday the ninth of April at 10 past 1 [PM]. I just want to let everyone know that I’ve agreed to a fight with Colby Covington. There is a date in place. Colby still hasn’t signed the contract.”
As the welterweight division heats up with these potential matchups, fans are left to speculate on the outcomes. A poll was conducted asking whether Joaquin Buckley could defeat Ian Garry, inviting fans to cast their votes and join the discussion. The results of such polls often reflect the sentiments and predictions of the wider UFC fan community, adding another layer of excitement to the anticipation of these fights.
