Joaquin Buckley and Shavkat Rakhmonov are at the center of a heated UFC talk as Buckley doubles down on wanting to scrap with the rising welterweight star. For months, Buckley has been pressing for a showdown with “Nomad,” even before his surprising setback against former champion Kamaru Usman earlier this year. He isn’t letting that loss derail his pursuit, especially since Rakhmonov has battled knee injuries and slowed momentum in the title picture.
Three days ago, Buckley took to social media with a bold challenge, insisting that Rakhmonov stop avoiding the clash. Rakhmonov’s reply, translated by Google as, “Black boy, you will be beaten,” did little to cool the tension, and Buckley clearly didn’t appreciate the jab. In response, Buckley fired back with a fiery vow to fight and defeat Rakhmonov, even signaling he’d take on anyone else who could get him to “Nomad.”
Buckley spoke with unflinching intensity, saying he built his career brick by brick from the ground up and that his opponents won’t defeat him toe-to-toe. He also addressed the comment about race, insisting he’d prove where they come from and how resilience has defined him—ready to do whatever it takes to win and to send a message to anyone in his path. The message was blunt: if the fight doesn’t happen soon, Buckley is prepared to face another opponent who can lead him to a title shot.
From a strategic standpoint, the matchup makes sense if Rakhmonov isn’t fast-tracked to a title shot on his return. A win or two more could solidify his position as a top contender and lay the groundwork for a confrontation with Islam Makhachev. Buckley, known for his knockout power and status as a dangerous Top 10 welterweight, presents a high-profile, marketable test that could captivate fans and build buzz for a potential showdown.
UFC matchmaking often benefits when fighters do much of the legwork to generate interest and drama. Don’t be surprised if Rakhmonov signs and the Buckley versus Rakhmonov rivalry comes to fruition in 2026, adding fuel to a title contention landscape that’s always hungry for big, bankable fights.
