Joaquin Buckley has compiled a peculiar 4-5 record in UFC bouts where he failed to land a single takedown. Without a successful takedown, he managed to defeat Colby Covington, Vicente Luque, Albert Duraev, and Jordan Wright, all by finish. Conversely, in every fight Buckley has lost, he also failed to secure any takedowns. The stat was highlighted ahead of his upcoming fight against Sean Brady this weekend, raising questions about whether he will manage to land at least one takedown in that contest.
Ahead of his welterweight clash against Sean Brady this weekend, a striking statistical quirk surrounding Joaquin Buckley has drawn attention: in UFC bouts where he failed to register a single successful takedown, Buckley owns a 4-5 record, with every one of his wins in that category coming by finish.
Those four victories without a takedown came against Colby Covington, Vicente Luque, Albert Duraev, and Jordan Wright. Luque, a 34-year-old finisher out of Kill Cliff FC, carries a 24-12-1 professional record and lands an imposing 4.83 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy, making his inclusion among Buckley's finishing victims a notable credential. Duraev, a 37-year-old Russian prospect trained at Xtreme Couture, holds a 16-5 record and averages nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes himself, yet Buckley put him away without needing one. The flip side of the stat is equally revealing: in every UFC loss Buckley has suffered, he also failed to secure a takedown, suggesting the wrestling dimension carries real weight in how his nights tend to go.
His opponent, Brady, is ranked seventh in the welterweight division. The 33-year-old Renzo Gracie Philly product carries a 19-2 record and is one of the division's more complete fighters, averaging 3.53 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing strikes at 55 percent accuracy with a volume of 3.96 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Brady's takedown rate of 3.53 per 15 minutes makes the grappling battle a central factor in fight planning for both men
- Buckley's finishing wins without takedowns show his striking danger is real at 170 pounds, but his losses share the same statistical profile
- Whether Buckley can secure even a single takedown against a polished grappler in Brady may prove to be a telling indicator on fight night
