That is possible. Buggy did seem to appreciate Ace. And knowing him, a previous crewmate (even if small) of the Pirate King, it is possible Buggy treasures friendships (despite his initial appearance where he used a crew as cannon fodder... yet then allied with Alvida to save his crew and even cried... guess this is Oda's only plothole I can think of now...).

WTF happened to Ricky's tamer (forgot his name)? He used to have 'teddy ears' and now has his air in the form of a sheep's horns?

So many days have passed... I wonder what happened with everybody else of the Straw Hats on their corresponding Islands... will we see it only on flasbacks? As anime fillers?