Joaquin Buckley, better known to fight fans as “New Mansa,” is not just a name you hear echoing through the UFC octagon — he’s a symbol of resilience, rooted in the heart of St. Louis. Before his thunderous knockouts went viral, before the bright lights of the UFC, Buckley was just a kid in the basement, mimicking martial arts movie icons with his cousins.
“Man, it was simple growing up,” Buckley says, reflecting on his childhood in St. Louis. “I wasn’t into sports back then. I just loved watching movies. Martial arts films were my thing — Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Michael Jai White. We’d try to copy their moves, messing around downstairs. That’s where it all started.”
That cinematic inspiration sparked a real dream. But it wasn’t until his teenage years that Buckley began to truly chase it. “I was watching Cradle 2 the Grave one day and saw Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell in a fight scene. I looked them up and realized — these dudes really do this. That was it. I fell in love with MMA.”
From there, Buckley funneled that passion into wrestling in high school, and after graduation, he sought out the nearest gym. “I never looked back.”
But the road to the UFC wasn’t a straight shot. Buckley’s journey is a blueprint of grit. After a stint in Bellator that ended with a disappointing loss and release from the promotion, his future looked uncertain. He took a job at Walgreens, clocking in hours and questioning if the dream had faded for good.
“I thought it was over, man. I stopped chasing it,” Buckley admits. “But the only thing that kept me grounded was training. It was therapy.”
A last-minute opportunity with Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) in 2019 reignited the fire. A knockout victory brought momentum, and a second win brought more. Soon after, he signed with the management team SuckerPunch and — almost overnight — received a call from the UFC.
“Literally, I signed on Sunday, and by Tuesday, I was in the UFC. That’s how quick it happened. Wild, man.”
His UFC debut didn’t go his way — a loss to Kevin Holland — but Buckley didn’t fold. In fact, what came next turned heads across the world. Given a new opponent on short notice, Buckley stepped into the octagon with Impa Kasanganay — undefeated at the time — and delivered one of the most viral knockouts in UFC history.
“I told people, they just don’t know about me yet. But they gonna find out tonight.”
And they did.
Now, as Buckley gears up for a marquee matchup against former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, he’s fully aware of the magnitude of the moment. It’s not just a fight — it’s a statement.
“Usman’s one of the greatest to ever do it. Hall of Fame level. But I want to show the world the level I’m on. I’m not looking at him like he’s past his prime — I’m preparing for the best version of him. And still, he’s no match for me.”
Facing a living legend doesn’t intimidate Buckley. If anything, it fuels him — just like the noise from critics and doubters.
“You don’t block out the noise. You let it in. That’s what drives me — proving people wrong, proving myself right. I like the noise.”
And through it all, St. Louis remains at the center of his mission. Unlike others who left the city behind, Buckley continues to train in his hometown, aiming to be a visible example for the next generation.
“There’s kids here that need to see this is possible. Not just on TV — but in real life. I’m here. I stayed. And once I get that title, I’m bringing it home.”
So what should fans expect when Buckley steps into the cage with Usman?
“Fireworks,” he says without hesitation. “You’ve got one man trying to reclaim what he once had — and another who’s never had it, but wants to know what it feels like. We’re both dogs. We’re both hungry. And that’s what makes this fight so dangerous.”
Joaquin Buckley will take on Kamaru Usman on June 14 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
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