AFCON 2025
Kamaru Usman made a triumphant return to winning ways with a commanding victory over Joaquin Buckley at UFC Fight Night on Saturday, June 14, 2025, inside the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
The former welterweight champion defeated Buckley by unanimous decision (49–46, 49–46, 48–47), snapping a three-fight losing streak and proving that he remains a formidable force in the UFC’s stacked welterweight division.
From the opening round, Usman imposed his signature wrestling dominance, taking Buckley to the canvas with relative ease and controlling the pace of the bout.
Throughout the first four rounds, the Nigerian-born fighter used a blend of takedowns, ground control, and strategic striking to keep Buckley on the defensive. Buckley, who came into the contest on a six-fight winning streak, struggled to match Usman’s physicality and experience on the ground.
In the fifth and final round, Buckley showed greater urgency and landed his best shots of the night, briefly swinging momentum in his favor.
However, his late effort was not enough to sway the judges, all of whom scored the bout in favor of Usman. The performance earned both fighters “Fight of the Night” honors for their intensity and resilience.
After the decision was announced, an emotional Usman addressed the crowd and media, revealing the mental and physical struggles he had faced in recent months.
He admitted to battling “demons” and expressed deep relief in ending his losing streak, describing the win as getting the “monkey off my back.”
Usman’s last victory prior to this bout had come in November 2021, making this his first win in nearly four years.
The result re-establishes Usman as a major player in the welterweight title conversation. While he did not call out a specific opponent, Usman stated confidently that he plans to “keep climbing” and that the knockouts will come. His goal remains clear: to once again wear UFC gold.
The current welterweight champion, Jack Della Maddalena, is reportedly preparing to defend his title against Islam Makhachev later this year, but Usman’s return to form has added a compelling new dimension to the title picture.
For now, the “Nigerian Nightmare” is back—and he made sure the MMA world took notice.
