The UFC is set to close out its 2024 season with an electrifying welterweight showdown as undefeated Ian Machado Garry takes on the knockout artist Joaquin Buckley on December 14 in Tampa. This high-stakes clash between two surging contenders could determine the next top contender in the welterweight division, setting the stage for an intense 2025 title race.
With a perfect 15-0 professional record, Ian Machado Garry has dominated the welterweight scene since joining the UFC in November 2021. Known as “The Future,” the 26-year-old Irish sensation has delivered impressive performances, including knockout victories over Jordan Williams, Song Kenan, and Daniel Rodriguez, as well as decision wins against elite fighters like Neil Magny, Geoff Neal, and Michael “Venom” Page. Machado Garry’s consistent success has secured his spot among the welterweight elite, and he’s repeatedly voiced his desire for a top-five matchup—most notably with former interim champ Colby Covington. While that fight never materialized, Garry aims to close out 2024 with his sixth win in two years, strengthening his case for a title shot in the coming year.
Meanwhile, Joaquin Buckley, known as “New Mansa,” has been on a meteoric rise in the welterweight division since transitioning from middleweight. Bursting into the spotlight with his viral knockout of Impa Kasanganay in 2020, Buckley initially built a 5-4 record in the middleweight ranks, collecting four performance bonuses along the way. After back-to-back losses at the close of 2022, he opted to drop to 170 pounds, where he has since delivered five consecutive victories. Buckley’s recent knockout of Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson at UFC 307 has propelled him up the rankings and into the spotlight, making him one of the most feared welterweights outside the top five.
As the year’s final UFC main event, this fight promises fireworks in Tampa and carries title implications for both fighters. While the division’s immediate future hinges on whether champion Belal Muhammad can defend his title against undefeated challenger Shavkat Rakhmonov, a decisive win for either Machado Garry or Buckley could put them in prime position for a title shot in 2025.
Stay tuned to www.blackbeltmag.com for the latest UFC news and updates as this thrilling matchup approaches.