Kamaru Usman ends 4 year drought to defeat Buckley

 

 

After nearly four years without a win and mounting speculation over his decline, Kamaru Usman delivered a powerful reminder of his greatness with a dominant performance at UFC Atlanta on Saturday night, reaffirming his place among the sport’s all-time welterweight elites

Kamaru Usman ends 4 year drought to defeat Buckley

Usman didn’t just defeat Joaquin Buckley — he dismantled him. From the opening bell to the final horn, the former UFC champion put on a vintage display, showcasing the suffocating wrestling, relentless pressure, and championship poise that once defined his reign.

“It feels good,” Usman said after the fight. “It’s been a while — I needed to get that monkey off my back. I know I can still perform at the highest level. Against a young, hungry, aggressive fighter like that, sometimes you’ve got to lean on your experience and skills. That’s what I did tonight.”

The win comes after a difficult stretch for Usman, who had suffered back-to-back losses and faced questions about his aging knees and whether his best days were behind him. But inside the octagon, it was the 37-year-old veteran — not the rising contender — who looked like the future of the division.

 

“I know it’s a running joke,” Usman added. “Everybody gets on the internet talking trash — ‘his knees, his knees!’ Well, shut the f*ck up. I can still do what I do.”

And do it he did. Usman controlled the fight from the outset, taking Buckley down with ease, dominating top position, and shutting down nearly all of his opponent’s offense. He opened a cut early in the fight and dictated the pace throughout, neutralizing Buckley’s late-round efforts to mount a comeback.

This wasn’t just a win — it was a statement. Usman didn’t return to simply protect his legacy; he came back to prove that he still belongs at the top. 

“I can do that to anybody,” he said. “Those knockouts will come. I just needed this win to reset. And to the rest of the welterweight division — I’ve been, and always will be, the f*cking boogeyman.”

For Buckley, the fight was a humbling yet valuable experience.

“I’m beyond honored to share the octagon with one of the greatest to ever do it,” Buckley said post-fight. “To go five rounds with him and put on a great show — I’m proud. This isn’t the end. We’re just getting started.”

Whether Usman’s performance puts him back in title contention remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: The Nigerian Nightmare isn’t done yet — and the welterweight division has officially been put on notice