After nearly two years on the shelf, former welterweight king Kamaru Usman returned to the Octagon on Saturday night for a showdown with surging 170-pound contender Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta.
The ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ walked into State Farm Arena ready to shake off a three-fight losing skid while simultaneously snapping Buckley’s six-fight win streak. Along the way, ‘New Mansa’ has earned stoppages in four of those six victories, the most recent coming against former three-time title challenger Colby Covington in December.
Round 1
Buckley immediately takes the center of the Octagon and starts pumping his right hand. Buckley throws a combination, and Usman quickly changes levels, securing a double-leg takedown against the fence. Usman gets into half guard as Buckley looks to control the ex-champ’s posture and avoid taking damage. Buckley started using the fence to wall-walk his way up, but Usman took his legs out from under him, sending him back to the mat.
Usman appeared to cut Buckley above his right eye with an elbow. Unable to reach his feet, Buckley rode out the remainder of the round on the bottom.
Round 2
Buckley comes out pushing the pace once again and eats a body kick from Usman. The ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ throws a one-two and feints a takedown that has Buckley biting hard. Usman with a right hand. Buckley comes back with a head kick that gets blocked. Usman comes charging in with a takedown attempt that sends ‘New Mansa’ crashing to the canvas near the fence once again. Usman immediately gets into mount, but Buckley works his way back into half-guard.
Like before, Usman stays busy on top and controls the action for the remainder of the second stanza.
Round 3
Despite getting taken down at will in the previous rounds, Buckley is more than willing to throw hands. Buckley appears to clip Usman with a right hand during a fiery exchange. Usman stays upright after momentarily losing his balance. Buckley ducks under and lands a big left hook. That prompts Usman to shoot for a single-leg takedown. Buckley tries to defend, but he ultimately goes down for the third time near the fence with two minutes to go.
Usman laces Buckley’s legs and is slowly sliding into mount. Usman stays busy and likely banks a third straight round over the seventh-ranked contender.
Round 4
Buckley again comes out swinging in the fourth. Buckley rips to the body and comes back up top with a left. Buckley steps in and appears to catch Usman with an uppercut. Usman responds with a right hand. A slight clash of heads during an exchange, but neither fighter protests. Buckley is having a much better round, staying on his feet through the halfway point. Unfortunately, the success doesn’t last for long as Usman shoots for a takedown against the fence.
Usman scoops up Buckley and puts him on the mat, settling into half guard, and there they stay for the remainder of the penultimate round.
Round 5
Knowing he needs a finish, Buckley comes out firing on all cylinders, throwing an early head kick. Usman shoots for a takedown less than a minute into the round, but Buckley fends it off. Buckley stuffs another takedown attempt. Usman lands a thudding jab as Buckley counters with a left. Buckley throws a looping left hook, and Usman shoots in for another takedown. Buckley adjusts and stays up.
Usman is desperately trying to get this fight to the mat, but Buckley is fending off every attempt to do so with two minutes left in the fight. Buckley throws a big uppercut that just misses the mark. Usman clinches up and pushes Buckley’s back against the fence. Buckley fights his way back to the center of the Octagon and connects with a left. Buckley gets close with another uppercut. Buckley clips Usman with a left that has the former champ on wobbly legs.
Buckley throws a combination in the closing seconds, but he can’t connect, sending us to the scorecards.
Official Result: Kamaru Usman def. Joaquin Buckley via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)
Check Out Highlights From Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta:
Usman’s knees 😭 #UFCAtlanta
pic.twitter.com/NCipuZ9qBF— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) June 15, 2025
KAMARU USMAN DEFEATS JOAQUIN BUCKLEY BY UNANIMOUS DECISION!
THE NIGERIAN NIGHTMARE IS BACK 🇳🇬 #UFCAtlanta pic.twitter.com/DuXyqFsT5N
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 15, 2025
