On a rough skid for nearly four years, Kamaru Usman got back to basics Saturday and sent a rising welterweight contender back into the pack.
Usman (21-4 MMA, 16-3 UFC) used a wrestling-heavy attack to stifle Joaquin Buckley (21-7 MMA, 11-5 UFC) for the better part of 25 minutes and won a dominant unanimous decision in the UFC on ESPN 69 main event at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Usman snapped a three-fight skid that started in 2021 when he lost the welterweight title to Leon Edwards. He lost a rematch to Edwards, then dropped a middleweight fight to Khamzat Chimaev in late 2023. Buckley came into the fight as the betting favorite on a six-fight winning streak.
It took Usman only 30 seconds to shoot for a takedown, and though he had to work for it a little bit, he had Buckley on his back inside the first minute and went to work on top. Usman tried to land short punches and elbows from half-guard, but the position was more about making Buckley uncomfortable up against the fence in a way he hadn’t been in before – and he had to stay there for more than four minutes.
In the second. Usman waited a couple minutes before he shot. After some exchanges on the feet, Usman shot from deep and put Buckley on his butt again – where he had no answers, like in the first round.
In the third, midway through, Buckley threatened Usman with a few combinations. That threat forced Usman to turn to his wrestling, and that once again was easy with his third takedown in four tries. With half the round to work, Usman controlled Buckley with ease for the third straight frame, including ground-and-pound from full mount down the stretch.
The fourth and fifth rounds were more of the same, though Buckley had to try to go crazy down the stretch for a chance for a finish – to no avail.
Up-to-the-minute UFC Atlanta results:
- Kamaru Usman def. Joaquin Buckley via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)
- Rose Namajunas def. Miranda Maverick via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Edmen Shahbazyan def. Andre Petroski via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Raoni Barcelos def. Cody Garbrandt via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Cody Brundage via technical decision (accidental headbutt; 30-27, 29-28, 29-28) – Round 3, 0:36
- Alonzo Menifield def. Oumar Sy via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Rodolfo Bellato vs. Paul Craig declared no contest (accidental foul) – Round 1, 4:59
- Michael Chiesa def. Court McGee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Malcolm Wellmaker def. Kris Moutinho via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 2:37
- Jose Ochoa def. Cody Durden via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 0:11
- Ricky Simon def. Cameron Smotherman via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Phil Rowe def. Ange Loosa via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 4:03
- Jamey-Lyn Horth def. Vanessa Demopoulos via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
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