The UFC welterweight division is in a state of stagnation, and Joaquin Buckley is fed up with the lack of action. He's not alone in his frustration; the division has been a topic of concern for years, and now Buckley is calling out the fighters and matchmakers to get things moving.
Buckley, known as "New Mansa," had an impressive 2024 with four victories, but 2025 was a letdown with just one fight, a loss to Kamaru Usman. Since then, he's been waiting for the division to ignite, but it seems like everyone is standing still.
"The division is on standby," Buckley declares. He points out the inactivity of key fighters: "Islam is out there playing wrestle ball. Prates is partying and clubbing. Morales is twerking and twirling. JDM is still crying at home. Leon is missing. Belal is trying to sell war meals. Ian Gary is watching from the corner. And Shavkat is gone, knocked out of the ranks."
Buckley's frustration is palpable: "I don't know what's going on with the welterweight division. We need to get things active. This is no joke. I'm ready to see what we're capable of in 2026. Right now, we're all wasting time."
His sentiments echo those of Michael "Venom" Page, who has been vocal about the 170-pound division's issues since joining the UFC. Page even resorted to fighting at middleweight due to a lack of options at welterweight. Now, he's insisting on a 170-pound fight, but the UFC could only offer him an unranked opponent, Sam Patterson, for his upcoming London bout.
So, who does Buckley want to face? In a follow-up video, he suggests Jack Della Maddalena as the ideal opponent. It's a strategic choice, as Jack is currently ranked No. 1 at welterweight, and a win over him would be a significant boost for Buckley's ranking. This highlights the problem with the division: everyone wants the best possible fight to position themselves for a title shot, but no one wants to take a step back.
While we can't blame the fighters for this behavior, as the system encourages it, it's time for the UFC brass to step in and make some matches happen. Will they finally address the welterweight division's issues? We've been hoping for change, but so far, there's been none. But hope springs eternal!
