Some fighters fight for fame. Some like to be under the lights, while a few aspire to become champions and carve their names into history. Joaquin Buckley, on the other hand, says he fights purely for the money, which he uses to provide a better life for himself and his family.
“New Mansa” is currently the No. 9-ranked welterweight, who is itching to return to the octagon but still does not have a fight booked, eight months after his loss to Kamaru Usman at UFC Atlanta.
Buckley has expressed frustration with his fellow 170-pounders for not staying active despite so many interesting matchups in the UFC’s current “hottest division.”
Meanwhile, during a recent sit-down with Parry Punch, Buckley candidly revealed that his motivation for fighting in the UFC is purely financial. He said:
My pure motivation on why I became a fighter is strictly financial right was to change my life to change you know uh the outcome of what my grandmother is dealing with right and like I told you before with her having Lou Gehrig disease you know I have my auntie that’s um taking care of her 24/7 you know and to be honest with you right um I can’t afford a full person to come in and nurse for my grandmother right now you know and it takes a lot of money to do that brother right. “
He added:
So, with that being said, you know, I’m the type of person that is motivated. If you put some money on the line, I’m going to get it.”
“New Mansa,” who was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, lived with his grandmother since sixth grade, after an existing heart condition took his mother’s life. His father was never really in the picture.
With some cash from his mother’s life insurance policy and his grandmother and mentor, Jesse Finney’s support, Buckley started his MMA journey.
Joaquin Buckley became the sole provider for his family after his grandmother was diagnosed with ALS in 2017. Hence, his main goal behind fighting in the UFC is to earn more money, so that he can support his grandmother and his aunt, who takes care of “New Mansa’s” granny full-time.
Joaquin Buckley wants to fight Jack Della Maddalena next
Despite losing to Kamaru Usman last year at UFC Atlanta, Joaquin Buckley has his crosshairs on the No. 1-ranked UFC welterweight contender and former champion Jack Della Maddalena next.
In a recent Instagram video, while calling out the Australian and highlighting why he and “JDM” should lock horns, Buckley said:
Me and JDM would be good money. It ain’t because of where he is placed on the rankings, as No.1. But I think me and JDM, stylistically, we’re just meant, fireworks. And I’m sure because of what we both went through, getting held down… I think we’d be good work and we would be satisfied with the work we put on once we fight each other.”
Check out Joaquin Buckley’s comments below:
Meanwhile, in the same Parry Punch interview posted above, Joaquin Buckley added that he’s aiming to face an opponent ranked higher than him in his next bout. However, if the matchmakers book him against someone ranked below him, or an unranked foe, he would refuse to take that fight under his current contract.
Beating a lower-ranked opponent won’t move Joaquin Buckley closer to a title shot. However, Buckley may compromise and fight someone down the rankings if the UFC gives him a chance to max his earnings by offering him a fresh contract and promising bigger checks. He added:
If I fight somebody down the rankings that I should fight for a new deal, and that’d be my reward.”
