Since the post-COVID-19 era, Dana White‘s UFC has become a premier platform for world-class fighters. Names like Ilia Topuria and Englishman Paddy Pimblett quickly come to mind, alongside many others who have made their mark on the sport’s biggest stage. Yet, despite their popularity, many of these fighters aren’t as active as fans might expect, competing only once or twice a year. In contrast, 170-pounder Joaquin Buckley has pushed the boundaries, consistently fighting more than twice a year.

This year, ‘New Mansa’ is set to make a bold statement by stepping into the octagon for the fourth time, bringing his total to 15 fights since his 2020 debut. He’s scheduled to compete at UFC 2024’s final chapter in Tampa, Florida, at UFC on ESPN 63. You may be curious about what drives Joaquin Buckley’s intense activity in the octagon. The answer lies in his tough upbringing, where challenges stemming from his parent’s absence pushed him deeper into the world of fighting as a means of finding solace. Let’s take a closer look at the early life of the surging welterweight.

Joaquin Buckley’s early life and family background

Joaquin Buckley’s childhood was anything but easy. Raised without his father, and someone who has rarely been mentioned by the Missouri native, his single mother was his constant support. In a recent ESPN YouTube video titled UFC Journey Part 1, Buckley reflected on the profound impact his mother had on him, “She was a single mom, did hair, just little random gigs to make some paper in order to feed me and clothe me. Just seeing her work ethic, her grind, and her ability to always get up in the morning and put in work. My mom was one of the big troopers in my life, and I feel like she was a big help in becoming the man I am today.”

However, when Buckley was just 11 years old, tragedy struck. His mother passed away from a severe heart condition, leaving him in a vulnerable state. In the wake of this loss, his grandmother stepped in to take care of him during one of the toughest periods of his life. With her support, ‘New Mansa’ began his MMA journey in 2014, competing in various regional circuits, which eventually opened doors to major promotions like Bellator and LFA. Yet, little did he know, more misfortune awaited him on his path. Let’s look at what happened next in Buckley’s life.

Buckley opens up about his grandmother’s diagnosis

Joaquin Buckley’s life began to take a turn for the better when he received full support from his grandmother in his MMA journey. He opened up about it in the same ESPN video, stating, “My grandmother is somebody who has definitely guided me in the right way, in a very positive way. She instilled in me that whatever I wanted to do.” After making waves in the Shamrock Fighting Championship with a perfect 5-0 record, which earned him a ticket to Bellator, tragedy struck.

In 2017, the Missouri native’s grandmother was diagnosed with ALS, a disease that severely impacts the nervous system, causing muscle function to deteriorate over time. For the unversed, ALS patients typically have a life expectancy of just two to five years. Heartbroken, Buckley revealed how difficult this period was for him, “I kind of took time away from hunting down the dream when my granny was diagnosed back in 2017 with ALS, and I made sure to put focus into my grandmother.”

At that time, ‘New Mansa’ faced even more pressure as his bank account ran dry. Balancing the care of his sick grandmother, pursuing his MMA career, and managing the financial strain became a true hardship. This period tested the Missouri native before his debut in the world’s biggest mixed martial arts stage, the UFC. Let’s take a look at how Joaquin Buckley managed to navigate these challenges while continuing his training.

How Buckley handled life amidst the juggles of hardship

Despite facing numerous challenges early in his professional career, Joaquin Buckley never bowed down to hardship, embodying the famous quote, “God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers.” Indeed, ‘New Mansa’ is a soldier. Just look at his professional record, where he holds five wins, with three of those victories coming by vicious knockouts. This year, he’s set to extend his streak to six, with four appearances in the octagon. So why not call him a soldier?

However, the path hasn’t been easy for Buckley. His journey included many sleepless nights, trying to balance everything. He opened up about his experience, telling ESPN, “So, I would work 11:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Walgreens, put my grandmother’s bed, go off to work at 9:00 a.m., and then go back, get my granny out of bed, wash her up, do whatever I needed to do, feed her, and then I would take about two hours to get some training in. After that, I’d come right back home and do it all over again.”

Despite these hardships, Buckley has no complaints about his life. He remains grateful, believing that all those struggles shaped him into the man he is today. He said, “That was very difficult, but I feel like right now where we are now is just nothing but a blessing with that pursuit.”

Now, all attention is on the upcoming showdown, as the surging welterweight prepares to showcase his vicious skills against a veteran and former interim 170lbs champion  Colby Covington, in a five-round battle. Fans are eager to see if Buckley can pass this test. Stay tuned for further updates. Who do you see coming out on top? Tell us in the comment section below!