- Oct 16, 2026
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Joaquin Buckley has declared he will retire following one more bout in the UFC.
The welterweight made the announcement Thursday on social media, days after suffering a knockout defeat to Mike Malott in the UFC Edmonton main event. The loss marked his third straight setback inside the octagon.
Buckley, who joined the promotion in 2020, holds an 11-7 UFC record across 18 appearances over six years. His resume includes five Performance of the Night awards, one Fight of the Night, and a 2020 Knockout of the Year finish against Impa Kasanganay. Originally a middleweight, he dropped to welterweight in 2023 and posted six wins in the division, though he fell to Kamaru Usman at UFC Atlanta.
Buckley said the decision followed conversations with his grandmother and loved ones. He cited family, including his children, as motivation while expressing concern about brain health. His brother will train with him for the farewell bout. "I can't leave on a loss," Buckley stated.
Source: MMA Fighting - Fri Oct 23, 8:00 AM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).