Joaquin Buckley Bio
Joaquin Yuconri Buckley, born on April 27, 1994, in St. Louis, Missouri, is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is ranked among the top contenders in the weight class. Fighting under the nickname “New Mansa,” Buckley has built a reputation as one of the most explosive strikers in the sport.
Buckley began his professional career in 2014 and has competed for several major promotions, including Bellator MMA and Legacy Fighting Alliance, before establishing himself in the UFC. Known for his dynamic knockout power and highlight-reel finishes, he has become a fan favorite and a feared competitor inside the Octagon.
Early Life and Background
Joaquin Yuconri Buckley was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, where he grew up in his grandmother’s house alongside his mother. His mother passed away due to a heart condition when Buckley was in the sixth grade, a loss that shaped much of his early life and motivated his drive toward athletic competition.
Buckley attended Marquette High School, where he first discovered his passion for combat sports by joining the wrestling team. Wrestling gave him a strong athletic foundation and introduced him to the discipline and toughness required for fighting. As he continued to train and develop, his interest grew beyond wrestling, and he eventually transitioned into mixed martial arts after graduating.
The challenging environment of St. Louis and the loss of his mother helped forge Buckley’s competitive mindset. With limited resources but abundant determination, he began training seriously in mixed martial arts, determined to build a career out of the sport that had captured his imagination.
Path to MMA
After high school, Buckley committed fully to mixed martial arts training, joining local gyms in the St. Louis area. He quickly developed a reputation as a hard-hitting striker, and he made his professional debut in 2014 at the age of 20. His early career took him through several regional promotions, including Shamrock FC, where he racked up valuable experience and continued to refine his technique.
Buckley faced some of his toughest competition during his early years when he signed with Bellator MMA, one of the top mixed martial arts organizations in the world. On April 13, 2018, at Bellator 197, he faced Logan Storley and lost by unanimous decision, but the experience of competing at that level proved invaluable for his development as a fighter.
Following two straight technical knockout victories in Legacy Fighting Alliance, Buckley’s performances caught the attention of UFC scouts, and he earned a contract with the premier mixed martial arts promotion. By the time he signed with the UFC, he had compiled a strong 10-2 record across multiple organizations and was ready to test himself against the best fighters in the world.
Joaquin Buckley Career
Early Career (2014-2019)
Joaquin Buckley launched his professional mixed martial arts career in 2014, fighting primarily in his home state of Missouri. During these formative years, he competed for Shamrock FC, Bellator MMA, and Legacy Fighting Alliance, building a solid foundation and earning a reputation for his knockout power.
He faced top-level opposition in Bellator, including a notable fight against Logan Storley at Bellator 197 in April 2018. Although he lost that bout by unanimous decision, the experience sharpened his skills and prepared him for the next stage of his career. He finished his pre-UFC run with two consecutive TKO wins in Legacy Fighting Alliance, performances that ultimately earned him an opportunity with the UFC.
UFC Breakthrough (2020-2021)
Buckley made his UFC debut on August 8, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 174 against Kevin Holland, just one week after picking up a win in LFA. He lost the fight via technical knockout in the third round, but his performance showed flashes of the potential that would soon make him a star in the promotion.
On October 11, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen, Buckley faced Impa Kasanganay on short notice after Abu Azaitar withdrew from the bout. Buckley won the fight in spectacular fashion, landing a spinning back kick to the head in the second round that knocked Kasanganay out cold. The knockout went viral on social media, generating more than 65 million views and 83 million impressions across the UFC’s platforms, and even caught the attention of rapper Kanye West, who used the footage to promote a new song. The viral moment earned Buckley the Performance of the Night bonus and announced his arrival as one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC.
Buckley continued his momentum with a knockout win over Jordan Wright at UFC 255 in November 2020, earning another Performance of the Night award. After a setback against Alessio Di Chirico in January 2021, he bounced back with a third-round knockout of Antônio Arroyo at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann, adding yet another Performance of the Night bonus to his resume.
Middleweight Transition and Return to Welterweight (2022-2023)
After moving up to the middleweight division, Buckley faced mixed results in 2022. He picked up a split decision win over Abdul Razak Alhassan at UFC Fight Night 201 and earned a fourth Performance of the Night award after a technical knockout win over Albert Duraev at UFC on ESPN 37, where the ringside doctor stopped the bout due to Duraev’s eye swelling shut.
He suffered setbacks against Nassourdine Imavov by unanimous decision and Chris Curtis by technical knockout at UFC 282, prompting a return to the welterweight division in 2023. Back at welterweight, Buckley found his form again, earning technical knockout wins over André Fialho and a unanimous decision victory over Alex Morono to close out the year on a high note.
Welterweight Rise (2024-Present)
Joaquin Buckley’s move back to welterweight produced some of the best performances of his career. On March 30, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 54, he stepped in as a replacement for an injured Sean Brady and defeated Vicente Luque via technical knockout in the second round, signaling his arrival as a serious contender in the division.
He followed that win with a unanimous decision victory over Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC on ESPN 56 in May 2024. His biggest statement came on October 5, 2024, at UFC 307, when he knocked out former title challenger Stephen Thompson in the third round, earning another Performance of the Night award and cementing his place among the welterweight elite.
On December 14, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 63, Buckley defeated former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington by technical knockout after a doctor stoppage due to a cut above Covington’s eye. The victory pushed his winning streak to four and established him as a legitimate threat in the division. As of November 2025, he is ranked No. 10 in the UFC welterweight rankings.
Notable Events and Milestones
Buckley’s spinning back kick knockout of Impa Kasanganay in October 2020 remains one of the most iconic finishes in UFC history, generating record-breaking viewership across the promotion’s social media channels. His Performance of the Night awards for that finish and subsequent knockouts have made him one of the most decorated bonus winners in recent UFC memory. In June 2025, his fight against former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman earned him a Fight of the Night award.
Joaquin Buckley Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Joaquin Buckley was raised in St. Louis, Missouri, by his mother and grandmother, in a close-knit family that shaped his early years. The passing of his mother due to a heart condition when he was in the sixth grade was a defining moment in his life and continues to motivate him in his career.
2025 Season Performance
Joaquin Buckley entered 2025 as one of the rising contenders in the UFC welterweight division following a stellar run that saw him defeat the likes of Vicente Luque, Stephen Thompson, and Colby Covington. His ranking inside the top ten reflected his status as a fighter on the verge of a title opportunity.
On June 14, 2025, Buckley faced former UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC on ESPN 69. Although he lost the fight by unanimous decision, his performance earned widespread praise and resulted in a Fight of the Night award. The bout against a future Hall of Famer further elevated his profile within the division.
As of November 2025, Buckley sits at No. 10 in the UFC welterweight rankings, and his mix of knockout power, durability, and growing experience positions him as a fighter to watch in the division. With several high-profile victories already on his resume and a championship run well within reach, his outlook heading into the remainder of the year and beyond remains bright.