UFC knockout artist dismisses Islam Makhachev as a welterweight threat: "This is the deepest weight class"

Islam Makhachev shocked fans when he opted to vacate his lightweight title to make the move to welterweight with the hopes of becoming a two-division champion. He is expected to receive the first opportunity to challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the belt in a bout that many have predicted he will win.

Joaquin Buckley does not see things that way, however, as he recently dismissed the former lightweight champion as a threat. Speaking at the UFC on ESPN 69 media day, 'New Mansa' stated:

"Don't get it twisted, bro. Islam ain't no big threat to the welterweight division. This is the deepest weight class that you can get into right now. Not only just from myself, but from guys like Ian Garry, from Shavkat [Rakhmonov], from Sean Brady. Islam is definitely going to have to prove to the world that he's ready for this division. Period."

Check out Joaquin Buckley's comments on Islam Makhachev below(7:20):

Buckley noted that it is difficult to retain the title in the welterweight division, pointing to the recent losses of Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad. While he believes that Makhachev will have a tough time at 170 pounds, he did predict that the former lightweight champion would beat Della Maddalena before retiring.

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Joaquin Buckley claims he is the toughest matchup for Islam Makhachev

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Joaquin Buckley previously took aim at Islam Makhachev and claimed he will deserve the next welterweight title shot if he beats Kamaru Usman, before adding:

"I will be the hardest fight that Islam has. He's not going to out wrestle me. He's not going to submit me. I've never been submitted in my career. And he's definitely not going to stand on the feet with me. If the people want to see it, it's going to be made... If Islam does get blessed with that title shot and he does beat JDM, he's not going to stay there. He's going to retire. He's going to get up out of there quick."

Check out Joaquin Buckley's full comments on Islam Makhachev below:

Buckley claimed that Makhachev is not a true welterweight, adding that he would run from the challenge of a potential matchup between the two. He suggested that a bout between the former lightweight champion and Jack Della Maddalena would not be big, claiming that the former should wait for him to capture the belt to make a bigger fight.