Usman Ends Win Drought with Victory Over Buckley at UFC Fight Night

ATLANTA: After a hiatus of over three years, Kamaru Usman marked his return to the winner’s circle, triumphing over Joaquin Buckley in the UFC Fight Night main event. The unanimous decision came at State Farm Arena on Saturday night.

Usman (21-4 MMA) prevailed after a five-round battle, with judges scoring the contest 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47. This victory breaks a dry spell since his last win in November 2021.

The Nigerian-American mixed martial artist expressed the significance of this win, emphasizing its importance in regaining momentum.

Key Quote:

“The knockouts will happen. I just needed to overcome this hurdle,” Usman stated.

Fight Highlights:

Usman asserted dominance in the initial two rounds of the welterweight headliner. He showcased agility to bring Buckley (21-7 MMA) down and capitalized with ground-and-pound, outstriking Buckley 16-0 in significant strikes.

Buckley showed increased aggression at the start of Round 3, achieving his striking range before Usman executed his third successful takedown out of four attempts. The former champion maintained control on the ground for the remaining two minutes, securing the mount position as time waned.

In Round 4, Buckley commenced with renewed vigor but couldn’t secure a conclusive finish. Usman once again took his opponent down, attaining the back mount as the round concluded.

Round 5 featured strikes from both fighters, but it proved insufficient for Buckley, whose six-fight winning streak came to an end.

Despite the defeat, Buckley remained respectful, acknowledging his first loss in the welterweight division.

Buckley’s Reaction:

“This is just the beginning. We’ll be back,” Buckley commented.

Co-Main Event:

Former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas (14-7) secured a unanimous decision victory over Miranda Maverick (15-5) with scores of 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28, improving her flyweight record to 3-2.