Kamaru Usman Shut Down Buckley’s Surge With a Wrestling
Kamaru Usman defeated Joaquin Buckley by unanimous decision at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on June 14, 2025. The former welterweight champion ended a lengthy wait for another victory, using sustained wrestling pressure to win a five-round main event.
Early takedowns took away Buckley’s space
Usman brought Buckley to the canvas early and controlled him from above, mixing positional pressure with ground strikes. Buckley suffered a cut around the eye during the opening round and struggled to create sustained offense from underneath.
The same basic approach continued as Usman used single-leg entries and work against the fence to limit the explosive exchanges Buckley wanted.
Buckley kept searching for a late opening
When the contest returned to standing range, Buckley remained dangerous with powerful combinations. Usman continued choosing his moments to close distance, including important takedowns in the fourth round.
Buckley pressed for a comeback as the fight entered its final stages. Usman managed the remaining distance and time, preventing that late effort from overturning the advantage he had built.
The decision ended a long wait for victory
Two judges scored the bout 49–46 and the third returned 48–47, all for Usman. It was his first victory since UFC 268 in 2021.
The result interrupted Buckley’s six-fight winning streak following his move from middleweight to welterweight. For Usman, it demonstrated that his wrestling remained an effective answer against a younger contender who had arrived with considerable momentum.
Sources
- UFC: Atlanta event date, venue, divisions and outcomes
- UFC: official Atlanta judges’ scorecards
- Sherdog: takedowns, cut, late exchanges and first victory since 2021
- UFC: Atlanta Fight of the Night and Usman’s wrestling
- Reuters: Buckley’s six-fight welterweight winning run
