Joaquin Buckley makes case to face Shavkat Rakhmonov

Joaquin Buckley has by no means been one to carry his tongue, and he’s ensuring his identify is within the combine as a possible opponent for Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310.

Initially, UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad was to face the undefeated Rakhmonov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in the primary occasion on Dec. 7 at T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas. Nonetheless, a toe injury has forced Muhammad out of the pay-per-view date.

Whereas the promotion has not but introduced a plan to switch the combat, rumors have begun flying, together with the thought that an interim title could possibly be created.

Ian Machado Garry has been a well-liked identify in dialogue, however Buckley (20-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) believes he has a strong case to be inserted into the potential combat at UFC 310.

“Hey look, I’ma allow you to end, however I bought one thing to say,” Buckley began on an Instagram video, slicing in on a post-fight information convention video of Machado Garry speaking about going through Rakhmonov. “No one need to see that combat. Folks need to see knockouts. Folks need to see finishes, and that’s precisely what we finna convey.

“Me vs. Shavkat. He bought 18 finishes, 10 subs, eight knockouts. And your boy, I bought 14 knockouts, and I simply knocked out my final two ranked opponents. So what you suppose I’m finna to do to this dude?”

Buckley is at present working scorching on a five-fight successful streak, undefeated since shifting to welterweight final Could. Machado Garry (15-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) is undefeated in his complete professional profession, though he has fewer knockout victories than Buckley.

“Hey UFC, that is the combat that y’all bought to make,” Buckley mentioned. “Like I advised y’all, I’m coming to take the throne, and I ain’t taking part in.”

In his final outing at UFC 307, “New Mansa” knocked out former title challenger Stephen Thompson within the third spherical. Throughout his post-fight interview, he known as out former champion Kamaru Usman.