Kamaru Usman Turns Back the Clock with Commanding Victory Over Buckley

ATLANTA – Kamaru Usman is back and he made sure everyone watching UFC Fight Night knew it.

After a 20-month layoff and a three-fight skid that had many wondering if the former welterweight king was past his prime, the 38-year-old returned with a dominant unanimous decision win over rising contender Joaquin Buckley on Saturday night in Atlanta. The judges scored the bout 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47 in favor of Usman, who controlled nearly every moment with a suffocating wrestling display that echoed his championship heyday.

For five rounds, Usman looked like the version of himself that once ruled the 170-pound division. He dictated the pace, neutralized Buckley’s dangerous striking with relentless pressure, and took the fight to the canvas in each of the first four rounds. From there, it was vintage “Nigerian Nightmare” — slicing elbows, heavy ground-and-pound, and positional mastery that left Buckley with little room to breathe.

“People must have forgotten,” Usman said in the post-fight interview. “I’ve still got it. You give me the opportunity, I’ll take it every time.”

Buckley, who entered on a six-fight unbeaten streak and had impressed with his power and athleticism, simply couldn’t find an answer to Usman’s takedowns. The former champ outlanded him 16-0 in significant strikes through two rounds and opened up cuts that visibly wore on the St. Louis native. Buckley rallied late, stuffing takedowns and landing some of his best shots in the fifth, but the damage was done.

“I expected him to be tough — and he was,” Usman said. “But you have to pull out the skills and lean on the experience. That’s what tonight was all about.”

Usman, whose last win came in November 2021, has had a tough run in recent years, including back-to-back losses to Leon Edwards and a short-notice middleweight bout with Khamzat Chimaev. Many questioned if he still had the legs — or the knees — to compete at the highest level. Usman answered those doubts with authority.

“I’ve heard all the jokes about my knees,” he said. “Well, shut the [expletive] up. I can still wrestle anyone in this division.”

Looking ahead, Usman made it clear that his goal is to reclaim the welterweight title. With Jack Della Maddalena now holding the belt and a potential blockbuster clash between the Aussie champ and lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev on the horizon, Usman wants the winner.

“You want the biggest fight? Me vs. the winner of that one,” Usman declared. “Former pound-for-pound vs. current pound-for-pound — who’s not paying to see that?”

While some are pushing for a long-overdue showdown with Belal Muhammad, Usman didn’t show much interest.

“Who? I forgot,” he quipped when asked.

As for Buckley, he took the loss with grace and respect.

“I’m honored to share the cage with someone like Usman,” he said. “He’s one of the greats. This isn’t the end for me — it’s just the beginning.”

Usman’s win was more than a return to form — it was a statement. The division has moved on during his time away, but the “boogeyman” isn’t done yet.

“I can do that to anyone in this division,” Usman said. “This is just the start of my run back. I’m still here. And I’m still dangerous.”

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