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UFC Atlanta headliner's iconic knockout is one of the best in MMA history

"New Mansa" will try to put himself in line for a UFC title shot this Saturday.
Drew Beaupre|
(Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)

Headed into the biggest fight of his career at UFC Atlanta this weekend, Joaquin Buckley’s first UFC victory still stands as one of the greatest knockouts in the promotion’s history.

Now ranked at #7 in the UFC welterweight division, Buckley joined the UFC as a middleweight in 2020 but moved to 170 lbs. in 2023 and has put together an impressive six-fight win streak that includes four stoppages.

“New Mansa” is set to headline his second UFC event this weekend in Atlanta, GA, where Buckley will take on former Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman and try to put himself in the running for a shot at the welterweight title.

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Joaquin Buckley (blue gloves) reacts after the fight against Colby Covington (red gloves) at Amalie Arena.
Joaquin Buckley (blue gloves) reacts after the fight against Colby Covington (red gloves) at Amalie Arena. | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Joaquin Buckley's Iconic UFC KO

Buckley has only established himself as a potential title challenger during his current welterweight run, but the 31-year-old famously etched his name in UFC history shortly after he debuted for the promotion back in 2020.

A debut matchup with the recently re-ranked Kevin Holland saw Buckley suffer a knockout-loss early in the third round, but later that year “New Mansa” returned to face the undefeated Impa Kasanganay at one of the UFC’s “Fight Island” shows in Abu Dhabi.

Kasanganay has already secured one UFC victory after earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, but the future PFL star found himself on the wrong end of one of the most incredible knockouts in MMA history when Buckley floored him with an incredible spinning kick in the second round of their middleweight bout.

Huge Opportunity vs. Former Champion Kamaru Usman

Buckley went on to score four more wins at middleweight before back-to-back losses in 2022 encouraged him to drop to welterweight, where “New Mansa” got off to a strong start when he knocked out Andre Fialho with a head kick.

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Four-straight wins set Buckley up for a high-profile matchup with former title challenger Stephen Thompson at UFC 307, and after knocking out “Wonderboy” the 31-year-old met former interim champion Colby Covington in a UFC Fight Night main event that he won via doctor’s stoppage in the third round.

Kamaru Usman reacts during his fight with Leon Edwards (not pictured) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena.
Kamaru Usman reacts during his fight with Leon Edwards (not pictured) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. | Per Haljestam-Imagn Images

Buckley gets another step up in competition this weekend against the returning Usman, who still holds a #5 ranking the UFC welterweight division but is currently on a three-fight skid that began when he dramatically lost the 170 lbs. belt to Leon Edwards via last-minute head kick at UFC 278.

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Drew Beaupre
DREW BEAUPRE

Drew is an MMA writer that regularly watches regional events in addition to major promotions such as the UFC, PFL, Bellator, and ONE Championship. He joined MMA Knockout when it was founded in 2023.

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