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Kamaru Usman defeated Joaquin Buckley at UFC Fight Night, showcasing his wrestling prowess. Usman won by unanimous decision and called for a title shot.
Buckley (L) was no match for the relentless grappling of Usman (R). (Brett Davis-Imagn)
UFC Fight Night: Usman vs. Buckley was more than a contest between two ranked welterweights; it was a convergence of narratives, a pivotal moment that would either confirm a champion’s decline or validate a contender’s arrival. The context surrounding both Kamaru Usman and Joaquin Buckley created a high-stakes environment where legacies and futures hung in the balance.
Former welterweight king Kamaru Usman entered his Atlanta bout with his legacy at risk. Once considered the pound-for-pound best, Usman’s aura was shattered by three consecutive losses, including two to Leon Edwards and one to Khamzat Chimaev. At 38, returning from a 20-month layoff amid public concerns over chronic knee issues, many believed his prime was over. This fight was a crucial test of his relevance against the narrative of physical decline.
His opponent, Joaquin Buckley, was the embodiment of explosive momentum. Initially famous for a viral spinning back-kick knockout in 2020, Buckley found his footing after dropping to the welterweight division. He amassed a six-fight winning streak, defeating established veterans and positioning himself as a top contender. For Buckley, fighting Usman was his most significant opportunity to claim a title shot.
Though the match was tilted in Buckley’s favour, not just because of his relative youth, but also his athleticism and explosiveness – what transpired was a 4-round dismantling of Buckley’s momentum as he was controlled on the ground, mauled by Usman’s world-class wrestling and cut open. Following is the full breakdown of how Usman utilised his veteran savvy to dominate Buckley:
Round-by-round breakdown:
Round 1:
Usman wasted no time dispelling any notions of a tentative, gun-shy veteran. He immediately closed the distance and executed his game plan, securing an early takedown that set the tone for the entire fight. For nearly the full five minutes, Usman smothered Buckley, demonstrating suffocating top control and effective ground-and-pound. The statistics for the round were stark: Usman landed 7 significant strikes to Buckley’s 0 and amassed an incredible 4 minutes and 25 seconds of control time. This “shutout” round not only banked a clear 10-9 for the former champion but also immediately forced Buckley into a defensive shell, confronting him with an elite wrestling threat he had not previously encountered in his welterweight run. The ground strikes were not merely for points; they were damaging enough to open a cut over Buckley’s eye.
Round 2:
The second round was a near-carbon copy of the first. Usman again found success with his wrestling, taking Buckley to the mat and re-establishing his dominant top position. On the ground, Buckley appeared thoroughly outmatched, unable to create the necessary space to scramble back to his feet or threaten with submissions from his back. Fan analysis noted he looked “helpless” on the bottom, often resorting to simply holding on to mitigate damage rather than actively working to escape. Usman added another 3 minutes and 8 seconds of control time while out-landing Buckley 10 to 3 in significant strikes. The pattern of the fight was now firmly established: Usman was the matador, and Buckley’s bull-like power was being systematically neutralized.
Round 3:
Buckley began the third round with renewed urgency, understanding he was falling dangerously behind. He employed more lateral movement and managed to find his striking range, landing some of his cleanest shots of the fight to that point. For a moment, it appeared he might be turning the tide. However, just as Buckley started to build a rhythm, Usman provided the definitive answer. He timed a powerful takedown off a Buckley combination, successfully grounding his opponent for the third time and killing any burgeoning momentum. Usman spent the final two minutes of the round in top control, advancing to the mount position just before the horn and cementing another dominant 10-9 round in his favor.
Round 4:
The fourth round was the most competitive and arguably the most telling of the fight. It was contested primarily on the feet, where Buckley finally found sustained success. He landed his best combinations, stinging Usman with left hooks and uppercuts and at one point appearing to wobble the former champion. This was Buckley’s best opportunity to secure a dramatic comeback finish. Yet, it was here that Usman’s veteran savvy shone through. Instead of panicking, he weathered the storm and, in response to being hurt, reverted to his most reliable tool, securing another crucial takedown. He masterfully turned a moment of danger into a position of dominance, ending the round on Buckley’s back. Despite being out-landed 11 to 6 in significant strikes for the round, Usman’s late takedown and 2 minutes and 18 seconds of control were enough to persuade two of the three official judges, Derek Cleary and Sal D’Amato, to score the round in his favor—a pivotal decision in the final tally.
Round 5:
Entering the final frame, Buckley’s corner surely informed him he needed a finish. He fought with the desperation of a man who knew he was down on the scorecards, coming out aggressively and letting his hands go. He rattled off combinations, landing multiple hard left hands and head kicks. Most significantly, Buckley’s takedown defense, which had been porous for four rounds, finally came to life. He successfully stuffed all six of Usman’s takedown attempts in the round, showcasing impressive late-fight heart and adaptation against a visibly fatiguing opponent. Buckley clearly won the round, out-landing Usman 20 to 10 in significant strikes, and was awarded the frame by all three judges. It was a valiant final effort, but it was ultimately too little, too late to change the outcome of the fight.
Usman looked slower on his feet and more tentative in striking exchanges than in his prime. Yet, this makes the victory more a testament to his strategic brilliance than a mark against him. He demonstrated profound fight IQ by recognizing his potential physical limitations and refusing to engage in a high-risk striking battle with a younger, more powerful puncher. Instead, he reverted to his foundational, most reliable weapon: a suffocating, pressure-based wrestling game.
Official Scorecards:
| Judge | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Bell | Usman 10-9 | Usman 10-9 | Usman 10-9 | Buckley 10-9 | Buckley 10-9 | Usman 48-47 |
| Derek Cleary | Usman 10-9 | Usman 10-9 | Usman 10-9 | Usman 10-9 | Buckley 10-9 | Usman 49-46 |
| Sal D’Amato | Usman 10-9 | Usman 10-9 | Usman 10-9 | Usman 10-9 | Buckley 10-9 | Usman 49-46 |
| Statistic | Kamaru Usman | Joaquin Buckley |
|---|---|---|
| Total Strikes | 137 of 243 | 51 of 156 |
| Significant Strikes | 41 of 99 (41%) | 44 of 148 (29%) |
| Takedowns | 4 of 13 (30%) | 0 of 0 (—) |
| Control Time | 12:57 | 0:00 |
| Submission Attempts | 0 | 0 |
| Knockdowns | 0 | 0 |
| Round | Usman Sig. Strikes | Buckley Sig. Strikes | Usman Takedowns | Usman Control Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 of 11 | 0 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 4:25 |
| 2 | 10 of 21 | 3 of 17 | 1 of 2 | 3:08 |
| 3 | 8 of 21 | 10 of 35 | 1 of 1 | 2:35 |
| 4 | 6 of 20 | 11 of 34 | 1 of 3 | 2:18 |
| 5 | 10 of 26 | 20 of 58 | 0 of 6 | 0:31 |
The Aftermath
In a significant comeback victory, an emotional Kamaru Usman defeated Joaquin Buckley, marking his first win in over two and a half years. Visibly relieved in his post-fight interview, Usman spoke of the immense pressure he felt, stating he needed to get the “monkey off his back.” He defiantly addressed critics who doubted his capabilities due to his age and knee issues, declaring, “I’m 38, and I can still do it… I could still wrestle.” Proclaiming he remains the “boogeyman” of the division, Usman immediately called for a title shot against the winner of the upcoming bout between Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev.
This call-out, however, was met with debate, as many questioned if a win over the #7 ranked Buckley was enough to bypass other contenders. The MMA community largely praised Usman’s performance as a “master class” in wrestling, viewing it as a significant legacy-boosting win that silenced doubters and proved his resilience after a long layoff. Analysts and fans suggested a more logical next step would be a high-stakes grudge match against former champion Belal Muhammad. A victory in this bout would establish an undeniable number-one contender.
Joaquin Buckley was initially gracious in defeat but later posted on social media that Usman was “more concerned about holding me than hurting me,” a comment criticized by many who pointed to the cut Usman opened with ground-and-pound. The loss sparked a debate over whether Buckley was “exposed” as a one-dimensional striker or simply “educated” by an all-time great. The consensus was that his grappling was not at a championship level, despite his physical gifts.
For Buckley, the path forward is clear: he must address his grappling deficiencies. While a fight against another striker like Carlos Prates would be entertaining, more strategic matchups against well-rounded fighters like Kevin Holland or Michael Morales were suggested. These opponents would test his development and prove he is more than just a striker, a necessary step if he hopes to reach the top of the welterweight division.
- Location :
Atlanta, Georgia (US)
- First Published:
