Joaquin Buckley and Ian Machado Garry are on different contender paths right now, but don’t be surprised if they meet in the cage in the future.
Bad blood bubbled up between the UFC welterweight contenders this week when they appeared to have a confrontation at Friday’s UFC Kansas City ceremonial weigh-ins. Garry was standing on stage with Buckley in the crowd, and while it’s unclear what was said, it doesn’t look like either man was happy to see the other.
Buckley participated in a media scrum Saturday and he addressed the incident.
“The reason why he doesn’t understand me is because I don’t speak ‘Cuck-anese,’” Buckley said. “You understand? So I can understand why he didn’t understand me the first time. But when I was out there, and he doing his weigh-ins, I’m not trying to get into his head and nothing like that, but when you talk like that, don’t act like when you see me like I’m invisible. You talk about me. You saying my name? Holla at me. Let me know something.
“But you know, his girl very protective, protecting her man. Shit, using the baby like a shield, whatever. But I really wanted to see what Ian Garry’s about and just what he had to say to me in person and he was real quiet.”
Buckley’s swipe is a reference to the scrutiny that Garry has frequently faced regarding his personal life, particularly his relationship with his wife, Layla, who hasn’t been afraid to fire back when negative comments about their marriage come up.
Regardless of any personal beef he has with Garry, Buckley is in no hurry to settle it unless it’s in an official capacity. He has more immediate concerns as it was just announced he is set to headline UFC Atlanta on June 14 opposite former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
“Nothing happened,” Buckley said of the Garry weigh-in incident. “His girl was touching on my arm and stuff like that, caressing my arm, I don’t know what all that was about. I feel like security, they’ve got to do their job, because they just never know how fighters are going to react, so shout out to them, but for me, I just want to promote and have a conversation, because if we’re really going to get down, let’s get paid for it at the end of the day.”
Garry competed in Saturday’s UFC Kansas City main event, where he won a five-round decision over the streaking Carlos Prates. When asked about Buckley’s comments, his reply was short.
“That man is an absolute p*ssy,” Garry said at the post-fight press conference. “I don’t care for anything he has to say. Leave him to be him. Let’s move on.”
“There was no incident with me at the weigh-ins with Joaquin,” he later added. “I didn’t f*cking see him.”
Hoss. Eddie Hall won the battle of World’s Strongest Men with a hulking effort against the legendary Mariusz Pudzianowski.
Bird. Anthony Smith gave a fan the middle finger after his retirement fight.
Disappointed. Many pros wondered why Carlos Prates didn’t find a finish in the closing moments of of his fight with Ian Machado Gary.
Settled? Chris Eubank Jr. beat longtime rival Conor Benn in one of the best fights of the year.
Vengeance. A John Wick-inspired grappling competition with prop guns and knives? Yeah, I’m thinking I’m back.
UFC Kansas City post-fight show.
Kamaru Usman talks comeback fight.
“Lionheart” love.
ICYMI.
BANGER.
Happy trails.
Nothing but respect.
Counterpoint: No he doesn’t.
Jon Jones officially has the 2nd longest undisputed heavyweight title reign in UFC history at 785 days, behind only Cain Velasquez’s reign of 896 days from 2012-2015
Jones is one step closer to having the longest title reign in two different weight classes
LEGENDARY pic.twitter.com/ZoeFrOIjAR
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 27, 2025
Sweet dreams.
Evolution.
What a week for “The Diamond.”
Kamaru Usman (20-4) vs. Joaquin Buckley (21-6); UFC Atlanta, June 14
Rafael Fiziev (12-4) vs. Ignacio Bahamondes (17-5); UFC Baku, June 21
Max Holloway (26-8) vs. Dustin Poirier (30-9, 1 NC); UFC 318, July 19
I didn’t think either man’s stock took much of a hit at the end of UFC Kansas City, but I’m seeing plenty of disappointment in Ian Machado Garry not finishing strong, and Carlos Prates potentially letting him off the hook. There’s also the matter of scoring, as it seems unfair to only give Prates a 10-9 in Round 5 in comparison to the rounds that Garry won.
How did you all score it?
Poll
How did you score the UFC Kansas City main event?
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