Joaquin Buckley Bio
Joaquin Yuconri Buckley is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Born on April 27, 1994, in St. Louis, Missouri, he has been a professional fighter since 2014 and has also competed for Bellator MMA and Legacy Fighting Alliance. Nicknamed “New Mansa,” Buckley is widely recognized for his striking ability, knockout power, and a highlight reel that ranks among the most viral moments in UFC history. As of June 9, 2026, he sits at number ten in the official UFC welterweight rankings.
Standing 5 feet 8 inches tall with a 76-inch reach, Buckley fights out of St. Louis, Missouri, where he trains with Finney’s MMA and Murcielago MMA. Across his career he has competed at both welterweight and middleweight, with his current run returning to the 170-pound class. He has built a record of 21 wins and 7 losses as a professional, with knockouts accounting for many of his most memorable victories.
Early Life and Background
Joaquin Yuconri Buckley was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, the same city he still calls home. During much of his youth, he and his mother lived in his grandmother’s house, where the close-knit family environment shaped his early years. Tragedy struck when Buckley’s mother passed away from a heart condition while he was still in the sixth grade, an event that helped redirect his focus toward athletics during his adolescent years.
He attended Marquette High School in Chesterfield, Missouri, where he began wrestling and developed the grappling foundation that would later support his mixed martial arts career. After graduating, Buckley continued to pursue combat sports and gradually shifted his attention from wrestling to the broader world of MMA, where he saw an opportunity to combine his grappling base with dynamic striking.
Path to MMA
Following high school, Buckley began training at Finney’s MMA in the St. Louis area, a gym that has remained his home base throughout his professional career. He turned professional in 2014 at the age of twenty, competing primarily on the regional Midwest circuit. His early record reflected a young fighter still learning on the job, alternating highlight-reel finishes with hard lessons against more experienced opponents.
Buckley built his reputation through promotions such as Shamrock FC, Legacy Fighting Alliance, and a brief stint with Bellator MMA. It was during this developmental phase that he faced Logan Storley at Bellator 197 on April 13, 2018, losing by unanimous decision in a bout that tested him against a top-tier wrestler. After two straight TKO wins in LFA, his performances were strong enough to earn a contract with the UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization.
Joaquin Buckley Career
Early Career (2014-2019)
Joaquin Buckley began his professional career in 2014 and spent his first six years climbing the ladder on the regional scene. Competing for Shamrock FC, Legacy Fighting Alliance, and Bellator MMA, he compiled a 10-2 record, blending high finishes with growing consistency. His time at welterweight defined these years, and he established himself as one of the more explosive prospects in the Midwest before attracting UFC attention.
His 2018 appearance at Bellator 197 against Logan Storley served as a reality check, but he responded by putting together two consecutive TKO victories under the LFA banner. Those performances, combined with his dynamic finishing rate, convinced the UFC matchmakers to offer him a contract and bring him into the Octagon for the first time in 2020.
UFC Debut and Middleweight Run (2020-2022)
Buckley made his UFC debut on August 8, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 174, taking on Kevin Holland on just one week’s notice after picking up a win in LFA. He lost the fight by technical knockout in the third round, but his aggressive style immediately stood out. The move up to middleweight that followed gave him more power and a body frame that could handle larger opponents, and it produced some of the most memorable moments of his career.
His October 2020 bout against Impa Kasanganay at UFC Fight Night 179 produced one of the most iconic knockouts in MMA history. After Kasanganay grabbed his foot to defend a body kick, Buckley leapt off the trapped leg and landed a spinning back kick to the head, rendering his opponent unconscious. The video generated more than 65 million views and 83 million impressions for the UFC, becoming the promotion’s most-liked, most-retweeted, and most-viewed tweet at the time, and even caught the attention of Kanye West, who used the footage to promote a new song.
From 2020 to 2022, Buckley added wins over Jordan Wright, Antônio Arroyo, Alhassan, Albert Duraev, and André Fialho, while suffering setbacks against Alessio Di Chirico, Nassourdine Imavov, and Chris Curtis. He earned multiple Performance of the Night bonuses during this stretch, signaling that his finishing instincts had translated seamlessly to the biggest stage in mixed martial arts.
Welterweight Return and UFC Breakthrough (2023-2024)
In 2023, Buckley returned to the welterweight division where he had begun his career, and the move immediately paid dividends. He picked up a TKO win over Vicente Luque, decisions over Alex Morono and Nursulton Ruziboev, and a third-round knockout of former title challenger Stephen Thompson at UFC 307 in October 2024. The Thompson win earned him another Performance of the Night award and announced his arrival as a genuine welterweight contender.
Just two months later, on December 14, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 63, Buckley faced former interim champion Colby Covington after Ian Machado Garry was moved to UFC 310. Buckley won by technical knockout when the ringside doctor stopped the bout due to a cut above Covington’s eye, cementing his status as one of the most dangerous welterweights in the world.
UFC Main Event Run (2025-2026)
Buckley’s 2025 campaign included a five-round main event against former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC on ESPN 69 on June 14, 2025, which he lost by unanimous decision in a performance that earned him a Fight of the Night bonus. The bout demonstrated his willingness to face elite opposition and helped further establish his credibility as a top contender.
He was later scheduled to face Sean Brady in the main event of UFC Fight Night 274, before the bout was rescheduled to UFC 328 on May 9, 2026, where he lost by unanimous decision. Despite the result, Buckley remained a fixture in the welterweight top ten and continued to position himself for another marquee opportunity inside the Octagon.
Style and Strengths
Buckley is best known for his explosive striking arsenal, particularly his kicking game and unorthodox spinning techniques that have produced some of the most viral knockouts in UFC history. While he began as a wrestler at Marquette High School, his finishing instincts and composure under pressure have defined his evolution into a well-rounded mixed martial artist. Training alongside teammates at Finney’s MMA and Murcielago MMA has allowed him to round out his grappling defense and continue refining his timing against high-level opposition.
Notable Events and Milestones
The spinning back kick knockout of Impa Kasanganay in October 2020 remains the defining moment of Buckley’s career, generating record-breaking engagement for the UFC and introducing him to a global audience. Other milestone moments include his UFC debut against Kevin Holland, his Performance of the Night wins over Jordan Wright, Antônio Arroyo, Albert Duraev, and Stephen Thompson, and his main event against former champion Kamaru Usman in 2025. These performances have collectively built Buckley’s reputation as one of the most exciting fighters in the welterweight division.
Joaquin Buckley Career Wins
Joaquin Buckley has accumulated 21 verified professional victories across mixed martial arts, with knockouts, submissions, and decisions all represented in his record. His finishing instinct has been a hallmark of his career, including viral spinning knockouts and high-level performances against ranked opponents. The numbers below reflect his verified professional mixed martial arts results through his most recently documented fights.
UFC Welterweight Highlights
Buckley’s most significant welterweight wins include technical knockouts of Vicente Luque and Colby Covington, a third-round knockout of Stephen Thompson at UFC 307, and a unanimous decision over Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC on ESPN 56. He also earned a unanimous decision over Alex Morono at UFC Fight Night 229 in October 2023, rounding out a strong stretch at 170 pounds.
UFC Middleweight Highlights
At middleweight, Buckley produced some of the most talked-about results of his career, including the viral spinning back kick knockout of Impa Kasanganay, a knockout of Jordan Wright at UFC 255, a third-round finish of Antônio Arroyo, a TKO win over Albert Duraev, and a TKO over André Fialho. These performances earned him multiple Performance of the Night bonuses and helped rebrand him as a must-watch finisher inside the Octagon.
Other Wins and Performances
Prior to joining the UFC, Buckley went 10-2 across Shamrock FC, Legacy Fighting Alliance, and Bellator MMA, where he faced Logan Storley at Bellator 197. Outside the UFC, he also made his freestyle wrestling debut for Real American Freestyle at RAF 03 on November 29, 2025, where he lost to Pat Downey in a one-off appearance.
Joaquin Buckley Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Buckley was raised in St. Louis, Missouri, where he and his mother lived in his grandmother’s house for much of his youth. His mother’s passing from a heart condition during his sixth-grade year was a formative moment in his life and helped shape the resilience that has defined his athletic career.
Personal Life
Buckley continues to live and train in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, where he is a fixture at Finney’s MMA and Murcielago MMA. He is known publicly by the nickname “New Mansa,” a moniker that has become closely associated with his brand and his highlight-reel performances inside the cage.
2025 Season Performance
Joaquin Buckley’s 2025 campaign was defined by his willingness to step into the spotlight against elite welterweights, including a five-round main event against former champion Kamaru Usman at UFC on ESPN 69 on June 14, 2025. Although he lost the bout by unanimous decision, the performance earned him a Fight of the Night bonus and reinforced his standing among the top ten welterweights in the world. The fight was widely viewed as a measuring stick for his ceiling at 170 pounds.
Beyond the Octagon, 2025 also marked Buckley’s debut in freestyle wrestling with Real American Freestyle at RAF 03 on November 29, 2025, where he faced Pat Downey. The appearance signaled a growing interest in cross-discipline competition and gave him additional exposure in a different combat-sports format. He is also scheduled to face former UFC champion Tyron Woodley at RAF 12 on August 22, 2026, as part of that expansion.
Heading into the next phase of his career, Buckley remains one of the most dangerous strikers in the UFC welterweight division, with a résumé that includes finishes of Stephen Thompson, Colby Covington, and Vicente Luque. His combination of knockout power, durability, and activity inside the Octagon makes him a perennial threat in the top fifteen, and his continued partnership with Finney’s MMA and Murcielago MMA provides a stable foundation for what comes next.
