Joaquin Buckley aims to KO Colby Covington, leapfrog Shavkat Rakhmonov for UFC title shot

TAMPA, Fla. – Joaquin Buckley will look to stake his claim at UFC on ESPN 63.

Buckley (20-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) meets former three-time welterweight title challenger Colby Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) in Saturday’s main event (ESPN2, ESPN+) at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.

This past Saturday at UFC 310, Shavkat Rakhmonov (16-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) cemented himself as the No. 1 contender with a unanimous decision win over Ian Machado Garry. However, Buckley thinks if he can deliver another highlight-reel finish, the title shot could be his instead.

“I feel like I’m leapfrogging over Shavkat,” Buckley told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 63 media day. “I feel like he’s injury prone, too. I feel like he’s always getting injured, something’s always wrong with him. So, he might not even show up to the fight, and it might just be me and Belal next year.

“But yet again, the performance has got to speak first. I can’t just go out there and get my hand raised by a split decision. Then I don’t want it. But if I go out there and do what I know I can do, get the Knockout of the Year, then yeah, I’m taking my belt.”

Buckley breaks down Rakhmonov at UFC 310

Buckley explains that Rakhmonov failed to impress him against Machado Garry. He expected a bigger sense of urgency from both fighters, especially considering what was on the line.

“It was boring, though,” Buckley said. “You’ve got two undefeated guys. You’ve got one that’s a finisher and one that’s a sniper. I was expecting one of these guys to go out there and give it their all and not just remain undefeated, but take somebody’s 0 for real.

“A good finish, especially when you got that title on the line, and you know that you could be next or you know you are going to be next to fight for that title. You got to go out there and perform like that, and neither one of them did.”

If Rakhmonov is indeed next for UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, Buckley sees him suffering his first loss.

“I’m going with Belal,” Buckley said. “Not only am I going with Belal, I think Belal can get a finish in this one via submission.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 63.