UFC title competition intensifies with emergence of Shavkat Rahmonov's fresh rival
Heyy there! Let's dive into the buzz surrounding the UFC world, focusing on the welterweight division. The third-ranked contender, Shavkat Rakhmonov, is reportedly facing some serious competition from an unexpected source—American fighter Joaquin Buckley (21-6).
According to reports from Liter.kz, citing vRINGe.com, Buckley is aiming high, targeting a spot against former UFC champ Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC on ESPN 69. If he manages to pull off this victory, Buckley believes it will catapult him towards a title shot.
On his YouTube channel, Buckley asserted, "As soon as we beat Kamaru Usman, it's time to fight for the title. It's time to take my belt. I'm undefeated in the welterweight division, and every top opponent I've faced has been knocked out by me. Kamaru will be the fourth. There's no one in the roster who does what I do."
When it comes to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev's (27-1) move to a heavier weight class, Buckley isn't pleased. Makhachev previously expressed his desire to challenge current welterweight champ Jack Della Maddalena (18-2), an Australian fighter. In response, Buckley stated, "A lightweight guy wants my spot? No way. I think the fight between Della Maddalena and Islam isn't that big. Let him wait. I'll be the toughest opponent of his career."
Meanwhile, Rakhmonov continues to hold a strong position as one of the top contenders. However, with the welterweight title race ramping up and more competitors emerging, Rakhmonov could find himself in some challenging circumstances.
In the approaching months, it'll become clear who will get the first shot at the title—Rakhmonov, Buckley, or Makhachev. Oh, and about potential rematches and future fights, keep an eye out for updates on those too!
Now, here's a fun fact—Islam Makhachev has recently vacated his lightweight title and is transitioning to the welterweight division. As for Joaquin Buckley, he's set to face Kamaru Usman in a non-title fight on UFC Fight Night in Atlanta. Shavkat Rakhmonov's future fights are currently unknown. So, it seems like none of these fighters have a scheduled welterweight title bout at the moment. Keep an eye on these exciting developments in the UFC world!
Joaquin Buckley is aiming for a spot in the main event of UFC on ESPN 69, where he intends to face former UFC champ Kamaru Usman, with the goal of catapulting himself towards a title shot, indicating his interest in the welterweight division.
Meanwhile, Shavkat Rakhmonov, despite maintaining a strong position as a top contender, could find himself in challenging circumstances due to the rise of competitors and the uncertainty surrounding his future fights in the welterweight division.
