Joaquin Buckley makes UFC champion Khamzat Chimaev a $50K offer

Joaquin Buckley dares UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev to last a round with him on the feet.

Rising welterweight contender Buckley (21-7 MMA, 11-5 UFC) continues to not shy away from the division’s biggest challenges. The 31-year-old recently saw his six-fight winning streak snapped by former champ Kamaru Usman in June but has recently been campaigning to fight undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov.

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Now, the knockout artist has turned his attention to the champ himself and took to Instagram to issue Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) a challenge.

“Man, all that striking you doing right there, just to shoot in the first five seconds of the fight is crazy work,” Buckley said. “So look, Khamzat, this is what I’m going to do for you: If you’re able to stay on your feet for one round, just on your feet, and not use your wrestling, I’ll give you $50,000. Oh, you heard me right: $50,000. And in your country, rubles, what’s that? About 3 million?

“So you know that’s good money for y’all. And guess what? Nassourdine (Imavov), if you’re able to match that, that means that’s $100,000. So, Khamzat, take that money or still show that you’re a punk by using that wrestling in the first five seconds. Matter of fact, I’m at the ATM right now. Let me go ahead and pull out some money. Matter of fact, I’ve got to get another fight, but when I get one, I’m on your ass.”