One of the UFC’s greatest welterweight champions, Kamaru Usman, steps back into the Octagon with his sights set firmly on reclaiming his place at the top. Facing the surging Joaquin Buckley at UFC Fight Night in Atlanta on June 14, 2025, Usman confronts a challenge that goes beyond just one opponent – he’s battling the rising tide of the division’s “new generation.”
The question hanging over this main event is blunt and unavoidable: At 38 years old, with three consecutive losses behind him, what does Kamaru Usman truly have left in the tank?
The “New Gen” Question
Joaquin Buckley, 31, didn’t shy away from voicing this central theme during their pre-fight interactions. He directly posed the question to the former pound-for-pound king: “How’s it feel going up against the new gen?”
For Buckley, who enters the fight on an impressive six-fight winning streak and actively called for this matchup, the answer holds significant weight. He represents the hungry, upwardly mobile talent looking to make a name off established legends.
Usman, typically known for his calm demeanor, opted for a direct, albeit brief, response. “I’m just f—ing tired,” he remarked, indicating he’d do his talking inside the cage.
Navigating a Tough Stretch
Usman’s recent record paints a challenging picture. His reign as welterweight champion, which saw him reach the pinnacle as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, ended abruptly with a stunning head-kick knockout loss to Leon Edwards in the final minute of their August 2022 fight. An immediate rematch in March 2023 also went to Edwards via decision. Usman then took a short-notice fight against Khamzat Chimaev at middleweight in October 2023, resulting in a majority decision loss.
While on paper it’s a three-fight skid, a closer look reveals two narrow decision losses and a knockout in a fight he was largely controlling. This suggests that despite the results, Usman remains highly competitive. He took time away following the Chimaev fight, focusing on nagging injuries and personal life, waiting for the “right opportunity” rather than jumping into another short-notice bout.
The Veteran’s Role: More Than Just Fighting
The theme of a veteran generation giving way to new talent is a natural cycle seen across all sports, much like Australia’s recent challenges in cricket finding successors for their retiring “golden generation” stars. In MMA, however, veterans can also play a crucial role beyond just competing.
Look at someone like Demian Maia. Even at 47, Maia continues to profoundly influence the sport’s new wave, actively coaching and mentoring fighters like Ian Machado Garry and Reinier de Ridder. His deep understanding of adapting submission grappling for the specific demands of MMA serves as a blueprint for a new crop of specialists. While Usman’s path is different – he’s aiming to defeat the new generation rather than teach them – his continued presence highlights the diverse impact veteran fighters can have.
Usman himself carries the weight of his own legacy and views on the sport’s evolution. He even claims a role in UFC history, asserting that the BMF title was initially conceived by the UFC back in 2019 specifically because his planned fight with Colby Covington at Madison Square Garden fell through, requiring the promotion to create a blockbuster main event featuring popular stars like Masvidal and Diaz. This perspective underscores Usman’s confidence and his view of his own historical significance within the promotion.
Usman’s Ambitious Roadmap
Despite the skepticism that naturally follows a losing streak for a fighter nearing 40, Usman’s personal aspirations remain those of a fighter in his prime. He laid out a clear, ambitious plan:
- Defeat Joaquin Buckley: The immediate and necessary first step.
- Target the Champion: Wait for and fight the winner of the anticipated (though unconfirmed) welterweight title fight between current champion Jack Della Maddalena and lightweight king Islam Makhachev. Usman sees a potential fight with Makhachev as a blockbuster matchup between a former and current pound-for-pound best.
- Achieve Double-Champ Status: If he were to reclaim the welterweight title, he envisions vacating it and moving up to middleweight to challenge champions like Dricus Du Plessis or potentially seek a rematch with Khamzat Chimaev.
It’s a bold, multi-divisional plan that resonates with the mindset he exhibited during his dominant championship reign.
The Stakes Against Buckley
As a +230 betting underdog against Buckley, Usman faces a significant challenge. Buckley’s momentum and knockout power are undeniable. However, Usman possesses a wealth of big-fight experience that few can match. He acknowledges the rise of exciting new talent in the welterweight division, including Della Maddalena, Buckley, Ian Machado Garry, Sean Brady, and Shavkat Rakhmonov, describing the influx of “new blood” as exciting.
For Usman, defeating Buckley is not just about securing a win; it’s about validating his ambitious plan and proving that his recent losses were bumps in the road, not the end of his elite career. A win is essential to keep his championship aspirations alive and remind the division that “The Nigerian Nightmare” is still a formidable force.
Ultimately, the fight against Buckley is where Usman gets to answer the “new gen” question not with words, but with performance. Can the veteran turn back the clock and show the world his bold plan is more than just talk?
