Joaquin Buckley Record: 21-8-0

The spinning kick and a middleweight run

Buckley’s UFC tenure opened with a setback, a 2020 TKO loss to Kevin Holland. He answered emphatically in October 2020 with one of the most replayed knockouts in MMA history, dropping Impa Kasanganay with a spinning back kick that went viral worldwide. He followed with a knockout of unbeaten Jordan Wright at UFC 255. The middleweight years were turbulent — a 2021 head-kick KO loss to Alessio Di Chirico and 2022 setbacks against Nassourdine Imavov and Chris Curtis bracketed wins over Abdul Razak Alhassan and Albert Duraev.

Welterweight surge

Dropping to welterweight transformed Buckley’s career. He opened the run with a 2023 head-kick stoppage of Andre Fialho and a decision over veteran Alex Morono, then ripped off the best stretch of his career in 2024: a TKO of Vicente Luque, a decision over Nursulton Ruziboev, a third-round TKO of striking great Stephen Thompson at UFC 307, and a doctor-stoppage win over former title challenger Colby Covington. The hot streak earned him a step up against former champion Kamaru Usman in June 2025, who handed Buckley a five-round decision loss. He later dropped a decision to Sean Brady in 2026, but his welterweight ascent firmly established him as a top contender.

Fighting style

Buckley is a finisher first and foremost: 15 of his 21 wins have come by knockout, none by submission, for a 71% finish rate. His game is built on dynamic, unorthodox striking — spinning kicks, flying knees and concussive hands — backed by genuine one-shot power and the athleticism to land from unusual angles. His decision wins over Morono, Ruziboev and Alhassan show he can also grind out rounds. The honest counterpoint is that his losses cluster against elite wrestlers and slick boxers who neutralize his explosiveness; the Usman and Brady decisions underscored that high-level grappling control remains his toughest test.

Career highlights

• The viral spinning kick KO — his 2020 spinning back-kick knockout of Impa Kasanganay became one of the most famous finishes in MMA history.
• 2024 welterweight tear — stopped Stephen Thompson at UFC 307 and beat Colby Covington to crack the contender ranks.
• Knockout pedigree — 15 of 21 wins by KO, with finishes spanning Bellator, the regional scene and the UFC’s biggest stages.