Joaquin Buckley believes former UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev’s skill set will translate well to 170 pounds.
Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) vacated his lightweight title for a move up to welterweight and is expected to challenge recently crowned champion Jack Della Maddalena later in the year.
Top contender Buckley (21-6 MMA, 11-4 UFC), who meets Kamaru Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) on June 14 in the UFC on ESPN 69 headliner at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, sees Makhachev hanging with the welterweight division’s elite.
“I think compared to some of the welterweight fighters, he matches up very well,” Buckley told Inside Fighting. “With his strong grappling, with his strong submission game, being able to be somewhat confident on the feet, he’s going to give a lot of guys a lot of issues. That being said, I think he’ll do just fine at welterweight.”
Regardless of what happens in the next title fight, Buckley expects a win over former champion Usman to guarantee him as the No. 1 contender.
“This is it,” Buckley said. “I truly believe that, with the performance that I put on against Kamaru Usman on June 14 here in Atlanta, there’s no doubt that the UFC should allow me and whoever else to fight for the title. The next one is the belt at the end of the day. It doesn’t matter who it is. That opportunity, that title is going to be around my waist.”
