During Kamaru Usman’s latest bout, Israel Adesanya couldn’t resist taking jabs — not at the fighters in the cage, but at Joaquin Buckley, who wasn’t even fighting.
As the cameras caught Adesanya seated cageside, viewers noticed him shaking his head and laughing during commentary moments when Buckley’s name came up. Moments later, on social media, Izzy doubled down, reposting memes mocking Buckley’s recent performances with the caption: “Overhyped highlight reel.”
👀 “One good kick doesn’t make you elite,” Adesanya reportedly told a nearby fan, referencing Buckley’s viral knockout that catapulted him into the spotlight.
Fans quickly noticed the tension. Some defended Buckley, while others praised Adesanya for “keeping it real.”
This isn’t the first time Adesanya has downplayed Buckley’s rise — but doing so during another fighter’s event made it clear: there’s real animosity brewing.
With Buckley climbing the ranks and Izzy watching closely, don’t be surprised if these two cross paths — verbally or otherwise — sooner rather than later.
Israel Adesanya couldn’t stop hating on Joaquin Buckley during the Kamaru Usman fight 😭 pic.twitter.com/xdkvrE1Fvs
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) June 15, 2025
