Joaquin
Buckley is frustrated with the lack of activity in the
welterweight division.
While the welterweight division is teeming with contenders, Buckley
can’t find a fight. “New Mansa” recently went off on champion
Islam
Makhachev and top contenders like Michael
Morales, Carlos
Prates, Ian Garry and
others. Buckley called out former champ Jack
Della Maddalena, who he thinks is still recovering from his
title loss against Makhachev last year. Buckley is coming off a
loss against Kamaru
Usman in June 2025. Buckley believes a matchup against
Maddalena will be a fresh change for both of them, as they were
both held down by wrestlers in their last losses.
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“If I can get anybody active, I’d say JDM,” Buckley said on
Instagram. “Me and JDM would be good money. It ain’t because of
where he is placed on the rankings, No.1. But I think me and JDM,
stylistically we’re just meant, fireworks. And I’m sure because of
what we both went through, getting held down… I think we’d be good
work and we would be satisfied with the work we put on…
“Right now the division is on standstill… Right now they got the
hottest division and ain’t nobody fighting. You got Islam out there
playing Wrestleball. You got Prates out there partying and
clubbing. You got Morales out there twerking and twirling. You got
JDM still at the house crying, you got Leon missing again, you got
Belal trying to send war meals, you got Ian Garry
watching in the corner… What’s going on with the welterweight
division? We gotta get things active, come on now. “
Maddalena (18-3) was unbeaten in 18 straight outings before his
title loss against Makhachev. Meanwhile, Buckley (21-7) was riding
a six-fight winning streak before his loss to Usman.