Kamaru Usman Silences Doubters With Dominant Decision Win Over Joaquin Buckley at UFC Fight Night
Atlanta, GA – Kamaru Usman proved he’s still a force to be reckoned with in the welterweight division, defeating Joaquin Buckley by unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-44) in Saturday night’s UFC Fight Night main event at State Farm Arena.
The 38-year-old former champion snapped his three-fight losing streak with a vintage performance, mixing his elite wrestling with precise striking to control nearly every moment of the five-round affair.
“I needed to get that monkey off my back,” an emotional Usman said in his post-fight interview. “They said I was done, but the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ isn’t going anywhere.”
Fight Breakdown: Usman’s Calculated Dominance
Usman set the tone early, opening a cut above Buckley’s right eye with a sharp elbow in the first round. He repeatedly took the fight to the mat, neutralizing Buckley’s explosive striking with his superior grappling. Though Buckley showed flashes of aggression—particularly with a late fifth-round flurry of uppercuts—Usman’s fight IQ and cardio proved insurmountable.
The victory marked Usman’s first win since March 2022 and answered questions about whether age had diminished his skills after losses to Leon Edwards (twice) and Khamzat Chimaev.
Co-Main Event: Namajunas Continues Flyweight Ascent
In the co-headliner, former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas outpointed Miranda Maverick (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) to earn her third win in four fights at 125 pounds. “Thug Rose” showcased improved takedown defense and crisp boxing in a performance that keeps her in the flyweight title conversation.
Other Notable Results
- Edmen Shahbazyan impressed in a middleweight scrap, defeating Andre Petroski by unanimous decision for his second straight win.
- Raoni Barcelos upset former bantamweight champ Cody Garbrandt via unanimous decision in a long-awaited matchup.
- Light heavyweight prospect Oumar Sy remained unbeaten (17-0) with a dominant decision over Alonzo Menifield.
- The card saw two unusual endings: Mansur Abdul-Malik won after an accidental headbutt against Cody Brundage, while Paul Craig vs. Rodolfo Bellato was ruled a no contest due to an illegal upkick knockout.
What’s Next?
With his career back on track, Usman called for “big fights” in his post-fight interview, possibly setting up matchups against the likes of Stephen Thompson or the loser of the upcoming Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad title fight.
For Buckley, the loss snaps a six-fight win streak but shouldn’t diminish his status as one of the division’s most exciting contenders.
Full Results:
- Kamaru Usman def. Joaquin Buckley via unanimous decision
- Rose Namajunas def. Miranda Maverick via unanimous decision
- Edmen Shahbazyan def. Andre Petroski via unanimous decision
- Raoni Barcelos def. Cody Garbrandt via unanimous decision
- Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Cody Brundage via unanimous decision (accidental headbutt)
- Oumar Sy def. Alonzo Menifield via unanimous decision
- Paul Craig vs. Rodolfo Bellato ruled no contest (illegal upkick)
- Michael Chiesa def. Court McGee via unanimous decision
- Malcolm Wellmaker def. Kris Moutinho via first-round TKO
- Jose Ochoa def. Cody Durden via second-round TKO
- Ricky Simon def. Cameron Smotherman via unanimous decision
- Phil Rowe def. Ange Loosa via third-round TKO
- Jamey-Lyn Horth def. Vanessa Demopoulos via unanimous decision
The event drew strong ratings on ESPN+, proving that despite recent setbacks, Usman remains one of MMA’s biggest draws. As the welterweight division continues to evolve, Saturday night showed the former king still has plenty to offer.