The air inside the State Farm Arena in Atlanta was thick with the kind of tension you only get when a legend is fighting for his relevancy. Most people walked into UFC Fight Night Usman vs Buckley thinking they knew exactly how it would go. Either Kamaru Usman’s knees were finally going to give out under the pressure of a younger, explosive Joaquin Buckley, or the "Nigerian Nightmare" would show us that class is permanent.
Honestly, the narrative leading up to this June 14, 2025, clash was all about the "changing of the guard." Buckley was the surging force, coming off six straight wins and fresh off knocking out the likes of Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson and Colby Covington. Usman? He was the 38-year-old veteran with 18 months of ring rust and three consecutive losses hanging over his head.
The Reality of UFC Fight Night Usman vs Buckley
If you just looked at the betting lines, you might have been tempted to bet the house on "New Mansa." Buckley closed as a significant favorite, with odds sitting around -278. People were obsessed with the seven-year age gap. In MMA, when a fighter is seven years younger, they historically win at a much higher rate. But stats don't account for the sheer, grinding willpower of an all-time great.
Usman didn't just win; he reminded us why he dominated the welterweight division for years. He took Buckley down less than a minute into the first round. It wasn't flashy. It was basically a wrestling clinic that sucked the oxygen right out of the building.
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How the Fight Actually Played Out
- Round 1: Usman immediate takedown. He spent the whole round on top, landing short elbows and making Buckley carry his weight.
- Rounds 2 & 3: More of the same. Buckley tried to find space to land that nuclear left hand, but Usman’s timing was just too sharp. He’d shoot exactly when Buckley tried to load up.
- The Championship Rounds: This is where it got interesting. Buckley actually started to find some success in the fifth, throwing 58 strikes and landing 20. But it was too little, too late.
The scorecards told the story: 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47. A unanimous decision for the former champ. It wasn't the "Performance of the Night"—that went to Malcolm Wellmaker for his brutal KO of Kris Moutinho—but it was arguably the most important result for the division's hierarchy.
Why the Buckley Hype Train Derailed
People love a highlight reel. Buckley is the king of them. But there's a massive difference between knocking out a fading Stephen Thompson and trying to out-grapple a man who, until he met Khamzat Chimaev, had a nearly 100% takedown defense rate.
Buckley's takedown defense looked great against Colby Covington, but Usman is a different kind of animal. He’s bigger. He’s stronger in the clinch. Basically, Usman used a "vintage" game plan that relied on his folkstyle wrestling roots rather than the striking-heavy approach we saw in the second Leon Edwards fight.
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Surprising Stats from the Night
You’d think a five-round main event would be a striking war, right? Not this one. Usman landed 4 takedowns. Buckley? Zero. In terms of significant strikes, Buckley actually out-landed Usman in the final two rounds, but he couldn't stop the positional dominance. Usman spent a massive chunk of the fight in control, proving that even at 38, his "fight IQ" is still top-tier.
The Rest of the Atlanta Card
The undercard was actually pretty wild. Rose Namajunas managed to fend off Miranda Maverick in the co-main event, which was another case of the veteran holding back the young hungry contender. Rose won a unanimous decision, though Maverick made it a dogfight in the clinches.
Then you had the weird stuff. Paul Craig and Rodolfo Bellato ended in a "No Contest" because of an illegal upkick at the very end of the first round. It’s one of those things that just leaves everyone in the arena feeling a bit deflated.
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On the brighter side, we saw:
- Edmen Shahbazyan finally showing some cardio, grinding out Andre Petroski over three rounds.
- Raoni Barcelos upsetting Cody Garbrandt. It’s tough to watch Cody these days; the speed is there, but the chin just isn't what it used to be.
- Malcolm Wellmaker looking like a genuine future star with a first-round KO in his debut.
What Happens Next for Usman and Buckley?
The big question now is where Usman goes. He mentioned in his post-fight interview with Brendan Fitzgerald that he still wants that belt back. Is he next for a title shot? Probably not. Belal Muhammad or Shavkat Rakhmonov (depending on who has the gold by now) are likely ahead of him. But he's back in the conversation.
For Buckley, this is a setback, but not a death sentence. He’s 31. He took a former P4P king to a decision and won the fifth round on some cards. He needs to go back to the lab and figure out his defensive wrestling because if you can't stay on your feet, your power doesn't mean a thing in the UFC.
If you’re looking to follow the fallout of this event, keep an eye on the official rankings updates next Tuesday. Usman is likely to jump back into the top 3, while Buckley might slide a spot or two, though his stock didn't drop as much as you'd think. Also, watch for the medical suspensions list; Usman was wearing heavy knee braces in training, and while he looked okay in the cage, those long-term injuries are always a factor at his age.
Keep your eyes on the upcoming UFC 324 card in Las Vegas for more movement in the lighter divisions, as the ripples from the Atlanta results are definitely going to change how matchmakers view the welterweight landscape for the rest of 2026.