UFC returns to Atlanta with a thrilling welterweight bout that sees former champion and current No. 5 ranked contender Kamaru Usman battle surging No. 7 ranked Joaquin Buckley. Also, former strawweight champion and No. 7 ranked flyweight contender Rose Namajunas takes on No. 11 Miranda Maverick. UFC FIGHT NIGHT: USMAN vs BUCKLEY takes place Saturday, June 14 at State Farm Arena. The entire card will be available in English and Spanish on ESPN+, starting with the prelims at 7pm ET/4pm PT. The main card will also air on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, kicking off at 10pm ET/7pm PT.
Kamaru Usman is a specimen. You know how Merab Dvalishvili feels vaguely unstoppable right now, a grueling nightmare match up for most anyone? That’s how Usman was for years, but he was wrestling that relentlessly three full weight classes higher. In the process of defending his belt five times, he also developed a shotgun blast of a jab and neat shifting right hand to help round out his game. The jab is the key to victory here. Maybe five years ago, Usman would’ve been able to bully and wrestle Buckley without any kind of striking success, but that feels unlikely given where both men are at in their career. In order to set up his shots and gain purchase on the wrestling, Usman has to be landing hard shots and earn Buckley’s respect on the feet.
Kamaru Usman (20-4) returns to action for the first time since October 2023 as he looks to snap a tough three-fight losing streak. The former welterweight champion made his debut at middleweight but lost to Khamzat Chimaev last time out and now returns to welterweight. Usman stepped in for that Chimaev fight at short notice after Paulo Costa withdrew but the decision backfired as he was dominated by Chimaev. He has taken time out to reset and now he comes back to the Octagon and faces one of the most in-form fighters in the division. Joaquin Buckley (21-6) is loving life right now having won his last six bouts and his confidence is through the roof. He has not lost in over three and a half years and four of his six wins have come by knockout. So much in this fight depends on what mental and physical shape Usman returns in. He has not been the same since Leon Edwards’ stunning head kick knocked him out in August 2022 but the time away may help him reset.
Even though Buckley does not have experience of fighting over five rounds, he has been far more active and is seven years younger than Usman so we do not think that will be an issue. We think Buckley gets the win against a potentially rusty Usman. He is coming up against a ferocious fighter in Buckley who is flying high at the moment. He has not fought at the levels that Usman have but it remains to be seen as to whether Usman is still at that level. The jab is his best avenue to do so, as Buckley is still prone to bursting straightforward with his head still. He gets away with it because of his speed, feints, and lateral steps, but a single well-timed Usman jab will wobble the knees if Buckley steps into it. Usman’s game is beautiful to behold when it all flows together, but in order for that to happen, he has to find some success standing.
