UFC Atlanta Results: Kamaru Usman Dominates Joaquin Buckley

Kamaru Usman Snaps Skid, Earns Crucial Win at UFC Atlanta

ATLANTA, GA – Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman successfully returned to the win column on June 14, 2025, defeating surging contender Joaquin Buckley via unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Fight Night at State Farm Arena.

The victory marked a significant moment for “The Nigerian Nightmare,” who had faced a challenging period, suffering three consecutive losses before this bout. His last win came in 2021. Against Buckley, Usman delivered a vintage performance, utilizing his dominant wrestling to control the action and secure a much-needed win.

High Stakes in the Welterweight Division

For Kamaru Usman (now 21-4), the fight was critical. At 38 years old, coming off defeats to Leon Edwards (twice) and Khamzat Chimaev, the future Hall of Famer needed to prove he could still compete at the sport’s highest level.

Across the octagon stood Joaquin Buckley (now 21-7), a dangerous power-puncher who had found tremendous success since dropping to welterweight, entering the fight on a six-fight winning streak. Ranked No. 7 in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings, Buckley had recently notched impressive victories over veterans like Colby Covington and Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. This main event offered Buckley the biggest test of his career and a clear path towards a potential title shot with a win over a former pound-for-pound king.

Fight Breakdown: Usman’s Wrestling Dictates Terms

Despite Buckley being favored by betting odds heading into the contest, Kamaru Usman largely dictated the pace of the five-round affair by resorting effectively to his elite wrestling base. Usman secured at least one takedown in each of the first four rounds, accumulating nearly 13 minutes of crucial control time on the mat.

This ground dominance effectively neutralized Buckley’s striking threat for the majority of the fight. Usman also held a significant advantage in total strikes landed, connecting with 137 compared to Buckley’s 51. An elbow from Usman in the first round also caused a cut over Buckley’s right eye.

While Buckley showed bursts of aggression in the final round, notably attempting uppercuts in search of a knockout, he was unable to overcome Usman’s early control and superior scoring. The fight went the distance, and the judges’ scorecards reflected Usman’s command of the contest: 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47, all in favor of Kamaru Usman.

Post-Fight: Relief and Title Aspirations

Following the unanimous decision announcement, an emotional Kamaru Usman expressed relief, stating he “needed to get that monkey off [his] back.” He addressed critics who doubted him due to his age or past injuries, confidently declaring his ability to compete with any fighter in the welterweight division.

Looking ahead, Usman used the post-fight spotlight to call for a shot at the welterweight title, emphatically proclaiming, “I have been, and always will be, the fucking boogeyman.”

UFC Atlanta Undercard Results

In the co-main event, former two-time strawweight champion Rose Namajunas returned to the win column at flyweight, defeating Miranda Maverick by unanimous decision.

Other notable results from UFC Atlanta included:

Edmen Shahbazyan defeated Andre Petroski by unanimous decision (Middleweight)
Raoni Barcelos defeated Cody Garbrandt by unanimous decision (Bantamweight)
Mansur Abdul-Malik defeated Cody Brundage by technical decision (Middleweight)
Alonzo Menifield defeated Oumar Sy by unanimous decision (Light Heavyweight)
Paul Craig vs. Rodolfo Bellato ended in a No Contest (Light Heavyweight)
Michael Chiesa defeated Court McGee by unanimous decision (Welterweight)
Malcolm Wellmaker defeated Kris Moutinho via first-round KO (Bantamweight)
Jose Ochoa defeated Cody Durden via second-round TKO (Flyweight)
Ricky Simon defeated Cameron Smotherman by unanimous decision (Bantamweight)
Phil Rowe defeated Ange Loosa via third-round TKO (Welterweight)

Jamey-Lyn Horth defeated Vanessa Demopoulos by unanimous decision (Flyweight)

The event marked a successful night for several veterans and rising contenders, highlighted by Kamaru Usman’s dominant performance in the main event to re-establish himself in the competitive welterweight landscape.