One of the most in-shape contenders of the Welterweight Division is looking for its second former champion.
After stopping Colby Covington in Tampa last December, Joaquin Buckley asked the fans to vote about who the next one should be for him.
The victory had brought him to six consecutive victories with 'new Mansa' with more momentum behind him than ever before, while he continues to push to the top five in the division.
After giving the fans three different names to choose from, their preferred option is the one who has flourished with Buckley versus Kamaru Usman who is officially made before 14 June.
Usman has already broken his silence about the announcement, while his next opponent chose to respond to the news in a completely different way.
Joaquin Buckley mentions his welterweight Hitlist before he set his sights on Kamaru Usman
Joaquin Buckley already has 15 UFC fights under his belt, but it is in this newest welterweight run where he has really proven what he is capable of.
He has always been a hunter who says what he is thinking of, but it seems that he is now collecting supporters around him more than ever while his stock continues to climb.
Of course Buckley came to the fore after many radars after he had produced one of the biggest knockouts of all time against Impa Kasanganay, but he now earns recognition because he is much more than just a highlight.
With the biggest fight of his career so far locked up for Atlanta while he recovers Kamaru Usman to the Octagon, the #6-ranged competition-arranger fans enthusiastically made his first social media post since the announcement.
The video starts with images of Buckley with a voice -over talks about how he can become UFC champion.
Where the video records is when it cuts that 'New Mansa' is sitting at a desk when a contract comes on its way, with a headshot from Vicente Luque with a reward of the #11 ranking when he performs the task.
Video shows Buckley who stops Luque in a one -sided way before the Welterweight Bounty Hunter receives its next name, Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson, which he has eliminated at UFC 307.
Contracts and finishes come thick and fast and it is the same for Colby Covington that he previously achieved in Tampa at the end of the video, the name of Kamaru Usman is the last to land at his table.
The goal is simple. Mission: eliminating, reward: title shot.
Joaquin Buckley will not be denied for a UFC title shot if he spoils the return of Kamaru Usman
Some fans have been somewhat critical of the way in which Joaquin Buckley was booked against many of the older welterweight contenders that are on their way to the ladder.
This same sentiment will certainly be raised during his next matchup with Kamaru Usman because the former Weltergeweight champion on a three-fighter-losing streak that did not fight in more than 18 months.
That said, 'the Nigerian nightmare' still occupies the #4 ranking in the division and losing fights to Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev is hardly a huge red flag.
If Usman has been able to cure some of his injuries by taking free time, it can become very interesting in Atlanta when the new blood takes the old guard.