Joaquin Buckley’s Losses in UFC Career – Exploring Current Record, Rankings of Welterweight Fighter

After knocking out Impa Kasanganay in their 2020 bout with a fantastic leg kick, UFC welterweight Joaquin Buckley gained name recognition among fans. While he has had his ups and downs, he is on the cusp of making it to the next level in the UFC as he prepares to go five rounds against former interim welterweight champion, Colby Covington.

Having made his professional debut in 2104, it’s been a steady climb for Joaquin Buckley to the top of the MMA world. So far, he’s racked up an impressive record of 20 wins and 6 losses  His road, however, has not been devoid of bumps.

Joaquin Buckley’s losses prior to the UFC

Joaquin Buckley was born to a single mother, whom he lost at a young age when he was in sixth grade. It was after this that he started living with his grandmother. ‘New Mansa’ started wrestling in high school and got interested in mixed martial arts, which he started training in after graduating.

He made his professional debut in 2014 and compiled a record of 10-2  at Shamrock FC, Bellator MMA, and Legacy Fighting Alliance before joining the UFC. The first loss in his career came at the hands of Jackie Ghosh at Bellator 164 back in 2016.

While he won his next two fights, he ran into Logan Storley at Bellator 197 and lost to the American via a unanimous decision. He left Bellator after this loss and fought briefly at the LFA before being signed by the UFC in 2020.

Buckley’s losses in the UFC

Joaquin Buckley’s UFC debut went disastrously as the American lost to Kevin Holland, suffering one of the most memorable knockouts in UFC history in their 2018 contest. This marked his first loss in the UFC and the third loss of his pro-MMA career overall.

Two fights later, he faced Alessio Di Chirico in January 2021 and was knocked out in the first round. The fourth loss in his career came via a unanimous decision at the hands of Nassourdine Imavov at their Fight Night contest the next year.

He lost his next fight, too, to take his total losses to six. It is also his most recent loss, which came via a second-round knockout by Chris Curtis in December 2021 at UFC 282. However, the American rallied back after these back-to-back losses and is currently on a five-fight win streak going into his next bout.

Joaquin Buckley’s upcoming Fight Night headliner against Colby Covington is the perfect opportunity to reach the next level and possibly break into the top-five welterweight rankings in the UFC. What are your predictions for UFC on ESPN 63?