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USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Joaquin Buckley: Islam Makhachev 'going to give a lot of guys issues' at welterweight
Joaquin Buckley: Islam Makhachev 'going to give a lot of guys issues' at welterweight Joaquin Buckley believes former UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev's skill set will translate well to 170 pounds. Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) vacated his lightweight title for a move up to welterweight and is expected to challenge recently crowned champion Jack Della Maddalena later in the year. Top contender Buckley (21-6 MMA, 11-4 UFC), who meets Kamaru Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) on June 14 in the UFC on ESPN 69 headliner at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, sees Makhachev hanging with the welterweight division's elite. "I think compared to some of the welterweight fighters, he matches up very well," Buckley told Inside Fighting. "With his strong grappling, with his strong submission game, being able to be somewhat confident on the feet, he's going to give a lot of guys a lot of issues. That being said, I think he'll do just fine at welterweight." Regardless of what happens in the next title fight, Buckley expects a win over former champion Usman to guarantee him as the No. 1 contender. "This is it," Buckley said. "I truly believe that, with the performance that I put on against Kamaru Usman on June 14 here in Atlanta, there's no doubt that the UFC should allow me and whoever else to fight for the title. The next one is the belt at the end of the day. It doesn't matter who it is. That opportunity, that title is going to be around my waist."
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC rebooks Rodolfo Bellato vs. Paul Craig days after last-second cancellation
UFC rebooks Rodolfo Bellato vs. Paul Craig days after last-second cancellation Days after it was unexpectedly canceled, Rodolfo Bellato vs. Paul Craig is back on the UFC books. The bout has been rescheduled for UFC on ESPN 69 in Atlanta, which takes place June 14 at State Farm Arena. The bout was scheduled as the co-main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Craig (17-9-1 MMA, 9-9-1 UFC) first reported the rescheduling date Thursday on "Leather'd Podcast", and it was confirmed by Bellato (12-2-1 MMA, 1-0-1 UFC) on social media thereafter. Minutes before the scheduled walkouts at UFC Fight Night 256 on Saturday, Bellato was pulled from his fight vs. Craig by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) due to visible herpes on his face. Bellato is aligned for the highest-profile bout of his career vs. Craig , who aims to snap a three-fight losing skid. With the addition, the UFC on ESPN 69 lineup includes:
USA Today
20-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ali Abdelaziz won't stand in the way of potential Islam Makhachev vs. Kamaru Usman fight
Ali Abdelaziz won't stand in the way of potential Islam Makhachev vs. Kamaru Usman fight Ali Abdelaziz sees big things on the horizon for Kamaru Usman if he can rebound against Joaquin Buckley. Former welterweight champion Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) will look to snap a three-fight losing skid when he takes on Buckley (21-6 MMA, 11-4 UFC) June 14 in the UFC on ESPN 69 headliner at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. If Usman beats Buckley, Abdelaziz can see him emerging as the next title challenger to face the winner of welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev. But with Abdelaziz managing both Usman and Makhachev, could a potential fight between his clients happen? "He's the greatest welterweight of all time," Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie of Usman. "He's Dana White's favorite fighter. Dana loves Kamaru Usman, 100 percent. Like, they have a very unique relationship. Listen, Kamaru is one of the biggest names in the division. "Guess what? If Kamaru wins, Islam wins, they want to fight, I'm going to stay home, and I'm going to be watching from home. You know, I can see this fight happening too. But listen, Buckley's tough, he's been on a good run, and you have to kind of focus on Buckley first before you think anything else." Usman returns for the first time since a majority decision loss to No. 1 middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev on short notice in October 2023. Despite the long layoff, Abdelaziz ensures that Usman is in peak form. "I was in Denver last week. I went and trained with Kamaru. He's an absolute specimen," Abdelaziz continued. "He's an absolute nightmare. I'm 195 pounds, and we always grapple. I did OK with everyone in the gym. He's a beast right now. He is focused, he's healthy, I can't ask for more. He's ready. Buckley is going to have a long, long night if he's not ready. A long one, like a (Tyron) Woodley night."
USA Today
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Ian Machado Garry slams Joaquin Buckley for acting out of 'desperation'
Ian Machado Garry slams Joaquin Buckley for acting out of 'desperation' Ian Machado Garry is making a bold prediction for Joaquin Buckley vs. Kamaru Usman at UFC on ESPN 69. Buckley (21-6 MMA, 11-4 UFC) meets former welterweight champion Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) in the June 14 main event at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Buckley was in attendance for Machado Garry's (16-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) unanimous decision win over Carlos Prates in Saturday's UFC on ESPN 66 headliner at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. He tried to heckle him during Friday's weigh-ins, but Machado Garry didn't give him too much attention. "It's just desperation," Garry said of Buckley on "The Ariel Helwani Show." "That's all it is. It's quite sad. He can't generate enough talk about himself by doing the stuff he does, so he tries to piggyback off other people. It's OK, let him be him." Despite slamming Buckley for his antics, Machado Garry admits that he thinks he'll make easy work of Usman, who hasn't competed since suffering his third loss in a row to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in October 2023. "My man's trying to focus on getting all the content he can with me this weekend meanwhile he's got a fight," Machado Garry said. "He should focus on his fight, get his fight done, and then we'll see what the future holds. I think he runs through Usman. I don't think he wins him. I think he demolishes him."
