Hello, mixed martial artist fans! If you love following the MMA and admire world-class, Joaquin Buckley is a name you’ll recognize instantly. Joaquin Buckley is one of the most exciting welterweights in the UFC right now, known for his knockout power and that viral spinning back kick that put him on the map. In 2026, he’s still climbing the ranks at #10, calling out big names like Belal Muhammad for a March showdown after a tough loss to Kamaru Usman last year.
Joaquin Buckley’s Biography
| Detail | Info |
| Full Name | Joaquin Yuconri Buckley |
| Nickname | New Mansa |
| Born | April 27, 1994, St. Louis, MO |
| Age | 31 |
| College | N/A |
| Religion | Christian |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5’10” (178 cm) |
| Turned Pro | September 13, 2014 |
| Net Worth | $5 million |
| Salary (recent) | $150k+ base per fight |
| Girlfriend | Sarah Reger |
| Relationship Status | In long-term relationship |
| @newmansa94 |
Early Career
Joaquin Buckley kicked off his pro journey in 2014 with Shamrock FC, scoring a TKO win over Wesley Sullivan in his debut. He racked up a 10-2 record across Shamrock FC, Bellator, and LFA, with highlights like TKOs over Chris Heatherly and Kyle Kurtz. A big loss came to Logan Storley by decision at Bellator 197 in 2018, but back-to-back LFA TKOs got him UFC notice. That run built his knockout power early. (62 words)
Professional Career
Buckley hit the UFC in 2020 on short notice against Kevin Holland, dropping a TKO loss but showing heart. Things exploded next with that insane spinning back kick KO on Impa Kasanganay—UFC’s most-viewed knockout ever, earning Performance of the Night and viral fame even from Kanye West. He followed with a quick KO over Jordan Wright, another bonus.
A head-kick KO loss to Alessio Di Chirico stung, but Buckley bounced back strong. He KO’d Antônio Arroyo for another bonus, edged Abdul Razak Alhassan by split decision, then TKO’d Albert Duraev when the doc stopped it over eye swelling—fourth Performance nod. Setbacks hit with unanimous decision losses to Nassourdine Imavov and a KO to Chris Curtis.
Dropping to welterweight sparked fire: vicious head-kick TKO on André Fialho went viral again, then unanimous decision over Alex Morono. He TKO’d Vicente Luque on short notice, decisioned Nursulton Ruziboev in his hometown, and starched Stephen Thompson at UFC 307 for yet another Performance bonus. Main evented against Colby Covington in December 2024, winning by doctor-stoppage TKO from a cut. Took on legend Kamaru Usman in June 2025 main event, losing a unanimous decision but grabbing Fight of the Night. Now at 21-7 overall, 11-6 in UFC, #10 ranked, he’s pushing for a title run, eyeing Belal Muhammad in March 2026. His 15 KOs highlight scary striking, mixed with wrestling base. (148 words)
Girlfriend
Joaquin Buckley isn’t married but has been with girlfriend Sarah Reger long-term, possibly since high school around 2010. They keep it private, but he’s shared family glimpses on social media. The couple has two kids: son Isaiah and daughter Ariah. Sarah’s been by his side since before his pro debut, through ups and downs. No drama or splits reported—they seem solid.
Joaquin Buckley’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Buckley’s net worth hits around $5 million, fueled by UFC paydays, bonuses, and growing profile. Big earners like $500k+ total from the Covington win (including $100k show, win bonus, main event bump, sponsorships) and $311k from Thompson push it up. Base salaries climbed to $150k+, plus Performance/Fight of the Night cash—$50k bonuses multiple times. Pre-UFC gigs added early cash, but UFC viral KOs boosted everything. No major debts or wild spending noted; he’s smart with it.
Fight Purses
| Opponent | Event/Date | Purse/Earnings | Notes |
| André Fialho | UFC Fight Night (May 2023) | $260,000 | Base $150k + win + sponsors |
| Colby Covington | UFC Tampa (Dec 2024) | $500,000+ total | $100k show + win + bump + sponsors |
| Stephen Thompson | UFC 307 (Oct 2024) | $311,000 | Includes Performance bonus |
| Kamaru Usman | UFC Atlanta (Jun 2025) | $216,000 | $150k show + Fight of the Night |
| Chris Curtis | UFC 282 (Dec 2022) | $60,000 | Base pay |
| General recent | Various 2024-2025 | $150k+ base | Per fight, rising contract |
Endorsements
- DraftKings – Featured prominently in sports betting odds and promotional materials, with Buckley’s fights regularly highlighted on the platform
- Venom Sports – Appears on his fight kits and earns sponsorship bonuses per UFC event (typically $11,000+ per appearance)
- PureFuel Hydration – Partnered with this sports nutrition brand in 2023 for pre-fight hydration support and promotional activities
- RE Athlete – Sponsored fitness and athletic performance brand that aligned with Buckley’s profile
- 1st Phorm – Fitness and supplement sponsorship featured on his podcast appearances and social media
- OT Promotions – His management team that helps secure sponsorship deals and build his personal brand across platforms
Career Records
| Opponent | Date | Result | Method | Notes |
| Kamaru Usman (ex-champ) | Jun 14, 2025 | Loss | Unan. Dec (5 rds) | Fight of the Night, main event |
| Colby Covington (ex-interim) | Dec 14, 2024 | Win | TKO (doc stoppage) | 3rd rd cut, main event |
| Stephen Thompson | Oct 5, 2024 | Win | KO (punch) | 3rd rd, Performance of the Night |
| Vicente Luque | Mar 30, 2024 | Win | TKO (punches) | Short-notice replacement |
| Nursulton Ruziboev | May 11, 2024 | Win | Unan. Dec | Hometown St. Louis |
| André Fialho | May 20, 2023 | Win | TKO (head kick) | Viral highlight reel |
| Impa Kasanganay | Oct 11, 2020 | Win | KO (spinning back kick) | UFC’s most-viewed KO ever |
| Logan Storley | Apr 13, 2018 | Loss | Unan. Dec | Bellator, pre-UFC test |
FAQs
1. Who is Joaquin Buckley?
Joaquin “New Mansa” Buckley is an American professional mixed martial artist born on April 27, 1994, in St. Louis, Missouri. He competes in the UFC’s welterweight division and is currently ranked among the top contenders. With a professional MMA record of 21 wins and 7 losses as of June 2025, Buckley has become known for his explosive striking and viral knockout moments that have captivated the UFC audience.
2. What does “New Mansa” mean?
Buckley’s nickname “New Mansa” is inspired by the Mali Empire, where “Mansa” means “king.” He adopted this nickname to represent strength, power, and leadership qualities he embodies as a fighter.
3. What is Joaquin Buckley’s background and early life?
Buckley was raised in St. Louis, Missouri, in his grandmother’s house by his single mother, who worked multiple jobs doing hair and odd gigs to support him. Tragedy struck when his mother passed away from a heart condition when he was in sixth grade. His grandmother then became his primary caregiver. Later, in 2017, his grandmother was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), which motivated Buckley to balance full-time training with caregiving responsibilities while working night shifts at Walgreens as a manager.
4. When did Joaquin Buckley start wrestling and MMA?
Buckley developed an interest in wrestling at Marquette High School in Chesterfield, Missouri. After graduating high school at 18 years old, he discovered an advertisement for Finney’s MMA on the internet and began his professional MMA training. He started his professional MMA career on September 13, 2014, at Shamrock FC with a first-round TKO victory over Wesley Sullivan.
5. What is Joaquin Buckley’s fighting style?
Buckley is classified as a freestyle fighter, meaning he employs a diverse skill set combining striking and wrestling. However, he is primarily known as a striker with exceptional knockout power. His favorite striking technique is the jab, and he has 15 knockout wins out of 21 total victories. Despite his wrestling background, striking has been the most impactful aspect of his MMA career.
6. What is the most famous Joaquin Buckley moment?
Buckley’s most viral moment occurred on October 10, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen against Impa Kasanganay. Buckley executed an acrobatic spinning back kick that became one of the most memorable knockouts in UFC history. When Kasanganay grabbed Buckley’s leg during a kick attempt, Buckley jumped off the trapped leg and landed a spinning back kick to Kasanganay’s head, knocking him unconscious. The UFC’s tweet of this knockout was the most-liked (359,000 likes), most-retweeted (143,000 retweets), and most-viewed (12.8 million views) in UFC history at the time.
7. Who does Joaquin Buckley train with?
Buckley currently trains at Murcielago MMA in Lansing, Michigan, under coach Joaquin Murcielago. His teammates include UFC fighters Khaos Williams and former UFC fighter Dequan Townsend, collectively known as the “Murcie Fighters.” He also previously trained at Xtreme Couture MMA in Las Vegas under head coach Eric Nicksick and Tim Welch. During his early career, he trained at Finney’s MMA in St. Louis under coach Ezra Lenon and other trainers. Buckley follows a rigorous training schedule of three workouts daily, including calisthenics in the morning, strength and conditioning in the afternoon, and MMA practice in the evening.
8. When did Joaquin Buckley join the UFC, and how did his debut go?
Buckley made his UFC debut on August 8, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 174 against Kevin Holland. Despite being signed after two consecutive TKO victories at Legacy Fighting Alliance, Buckley lost his promotional debut via technical knockout in the third round, highlighting the competitive nature of the UFC’s welterweight division.
9. What are Joaquin Buckley’s recent notable wins?
Buckley has achieved several impressive victories in recent years, including a knockout of Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson at UFC 307 on October 5, 2024, where he defeated the veteran striker with a powerful right hook in the third round. In December 2024, he defeated former interim UFC Welterweight Champion Colby Covington via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) at UFC on ESPN 63 in Tampa, establishing himself as a top contender. He also defeated Vicente Luque, Andre Fialho, and Alex Morono in consecutive wins before facing Kamaru Usman in June 2025.
10. What is Joaquin Buckley’s net worth and earnings?
Buckley’s estimated net worth is approximately $2.3 to $2.5 million as of 2025. His earnings have significantly increased with his UFC prominence. For his UFC 307 fight against Stephen Thompson, he earned $150,000 in base salary plus $100,000 in win bonus. His UFC on ESPN 63 fight against Colby Covington earned him $350,000 in base salary. His highest payday came from his June 2025 fight against Kamaru Usman, where he reportedly received approximately $325,000 to $500,000 in total compensation.