Joaquin Buckley came under significant criticism following his pre-fight bravado before his UFC Atlanta bout. He perceived his combat with Kamaru Usman as a stepping stone towards a championship clash, which, unfortunately, unfolded unfavorably as the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ demonstrated his undisputed dominance. The fallout from Buckley’s defeat was immediate, with UFC luminary Kevin Holland subtly mocking Buckley’s previous declaration that Islam Makhachev was evading him.
During his match at UFC Atlanta, Joaquin Buckley’s deficiencies in grappling were glaring, a fact that Kamaru Usman brutally exposed. Through a display of superior groundwork, Usman dominated Buckley, maintaining his control throughout the bulk of the match. Buckley attempted a late resurgence, but the damage inflicted by Usman had already sealed the outcome.
Instead of serving as a platform for his ascendency, the bout with Kamaru Usman revealed a significant gap in Joaquin Buckley’s ground-defense skillset, especially against accomplished wrestlers such as Usman. His performance did not go unnoticed, and it precipitated comments from his counterparts, most notably from Kevin Holland.
Taking note of Buckley’s struggles in the fight, Kevin Holland highlighted his flawed grappling and alluded to the capability of Islam Makhachev effortlessly dealing with him. Holland’s remark, ‘Islam smokes ’em,’ was a jab insinuating that Buckley wouldn’t pose a considerable challenge for a fighter with Makhachev’s groundwork prowess, dubbing the potential clash as easily manageable.
Holland’s remarks sparked further discussion, amplifying doubts about Buckley’s readiness to compete at the topmost tier of his division, comprising potent wrestlers. Earlier, Buckley had vocalized his belief that Makhachev was selective about his opponents, eschewing the more formidable contenders.
Joaquin Buckley proposed that Makhachev’s move up in weight was a strategic decision to confront a less challenging opponent, Jack Della Maddalena. Additionally, he conjectured that had he overcome Belal Muhammad and obtained the welterweight title, Makhachev might have remained in the lightweight category to steer clear of a matchup with him, which would undoubtedly have been a daunting task.
However, these bold claims of Buckley came under scrutiny as his performance did not meet the expectations set by his call-outs of prominent contenders like Islam Makhachev and his self-presentation as an aspiring winner. His failure to match up to Usman has triggered a wave of criticism, with detractors such as Dillon Danis capitalizing on the opportunity to question his credentials.
Buckley suffered a setback amidst his plans of climbing up the ladder, with his defeat to Usman further stringing him away from his objective. His assertions of being avoided by Makhachev have been put to question, as his performance left much to desire in the eyes of the critics.
His lack of control in the fight against Usman exposed a glaring weakness, which made Holland comfortably remark about Makhachev’s potential ease of victory over him. As a result of his shortcomings, many in the industry have started deliberating on his readiness to face top-tier fighters, where a flawless wrestling game is a must.
While Buckley had confidently criticized Makhachev’s strategy of choosing opponents, his own performance against Usman could not validate his claims. This triggered speculations about whether his post-defeat criticisms were justifiable, with Holland implying that Makhachev would easily handle Buckley considering his visible wrestling deficiencies in the Usman match.
Controversies around his remarks about Makhachev choosing an easier opponent in Della Maddalena increased after his fallible performance. Buckley’s speculation that Makhachev would have opted for easier battles had he become welterweight champion had drawn substantial controversy even before his match, and his performance added fuel to this fire.
The defeat led to a torrent of backlash against Buckley, as Holland and several others took jabs at him and questioned his readiness for matches against the likes of Makhachev. His planning and strategic thinking came under the microscope as a consequence of his loss and the subsequent fallout.
There have been several critical remarks about Buckley’s overconfidence and underperformance, with members of the UFC community putting his credibility under the scanner. His setback has led to an intense evaluation of his skills and capabilities, casting doubts on his future prospects at the highest level.
Overall, Buckley’s situation serves as a reminder that the journey to the top of this fiercely competitive sport takes more than just confidence. It demands demonstrable skill, strategic thinking, and above all, the ability to match up to the competition, even in the face of adversity.