UFC Fight Night Preview: Will A Returning Kamaru Usman Be Put To Test By The 'Explosive' Joaquin Buckley?

Last Updated:June 13, 2025, 16:45 IST

UFC returns to Atlanta on June 14, 2025, with Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley headlining. Usman seeks redemption; Buckley aims for a title shot.

Usman Buckley

The Ultimate Fighting Championship makes its highly anticipated return to Atlanta, Georgia, for the first time since UFC 236 in April 2019. On Saturday, June 14, 2025, the State Farm Arena will be the epicenter of a pivotal UFC Fight Night, headlined by a welterweight clash teeming with narrative intrigue: former long-reigning champion Kamaru “Nigerian Nightmare" Usman squares off against the surging, explosive contender Joaquin “New Mansa" Buckley.

This event promises not only a exciting main event but also a stacked undercard, including a crucial women’s flyweight co-main event and a host of matchups with significant divisional implications.

Main Event: Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley

A decorated former champion seeking to reclaim his elite status against a hungry contender riding a wave of spectacular victories. The #5 ranked Kamaru Usman aims to prove his championship chapter isn’t closed, while the #7 ranked Joaquin Buckley looks to catapult himself into title contention with a career-defining win.

Usman, now 38 years old, boasts an illustrious career record of 20-4-0. The welterweight was once the undisputed king of the 170-pound division. His reign was characterized by suffocating wrestling, relentless pressure, and an improving striking arsenal, leading to five successful title defenses. Usman is a former NCAA Division II National Wrestling Champion and The Ultimate Fighter 21 winner, holding a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Jorge Santiago.

However, the “Nigerian Nightmare" finds himself on a three-fight losing streak. This skid began with a shocking fifth-round head kick knockout loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 278 in August 2022, where he lost the welterweight title.

He then lost the rematch to Edwards via majority decision at UFC 286 in March 2023. His most recent outing was a short-notice middleweight debut against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in October 2023, which he lost by majority decision.

Despite these setbacks, Usman remains confident, stating, “it’s my time, and it’s my opportunity, my job, to be able to go in there and let him know that you’ve done a great job, but you’re just not here yet". He acknowledged Buckley’s call-out, understanding the ambition from his own days aspiring to fight Georges St-Pierre. He emphasizes that while he’d love a “nice, flawless finish," simply “getting the win is always enough".

Buckley, the 31-year-old dynamo, enters this main event with a record of 21-6-0 and significant steam. The southpaw is renowned for his electrifying knockout power, evidenced by 15 of his 21 victories coming via KO/TKO. Since dropping from middleweight to welterweight in 2023, Buckley has been on a tear, amassing a six-fight win streak.

This impressive run includes victories over Alex Morono (Unanimous Decision, October 2023), Vicente Luque (TKO, March 2024), Nursulton Ruziboev (Unanimous Decision, May 2024), a highlight-reel KO of Stephen “Wonderboy" Thompson (October 2024), and most recently, a TKO (Doctor Stoppage) win over former interim champion Colby Covington in December 2024.

This fight against Usman was one Buckley actively sought. Buckley believes he is facing the “best version of Kamaru Usman" and is driven by a “kill or be killed" mentality, asserting, “this is my chapter, this is my story". He also points to his dynamic and unique fighting style, suggesting Usman hasn’t encountered a fighter with his movement and won’t be prepared.

Tale of the Tape: Usman vs. Buckley

Match Analysis:

This fight pits Usman’s elite wrestling foundation and evolved striking against Buckley’s explosive athleticism and fight-ending KO power. Usman is known for his suffocating clinch work and a high takedown defense rate (90%). His striking, once secondary, became a potent weapon, evidenced by knockouts over Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns. He can dictate fights at range with his jab or grind opponents down with relentless pressure. Historically, fighters who couldn’t cope with his wrestling and pressure have faltered.

Buckley is a different kind of animal. His game is built around explosive, athletic strikes, with his right hook being a particularly dangerous weapon. Since moving to welterweight, he has demonstrated improved cardio, carrying his power into later rounds. He’s an evolving striker with a respectable takedown defense. His self-described dynamic movement is something he believes will be a novel challenge for Usman.

Several key questions emerge from this stylistic clash. The persistent narrative surrounding Usman’s aging knees will be under scrutiny. Can they withstand Buckley’s dynamic movement and potential offensive wrestling, or will Usman need to rely more heavily on his own takedown attempts? Buckley himself has stated he plans to use “good footwork" to exploit this perceived vulnerability.

Another critical question is whether Buckley’s raw power can overcome Usman’s proven experience. Usman absorbed significant damage in his fights with Edwards, particularly the head kick that ended his reign. Furthermore, can Usman effectively establish his jab and control the distance against the southpaw Buckley, who will be aggressively seeking to close that distance to unleash his power shots?

The five-round championship distance also presents an interesting dynamic. Usman has extensive experience in 25-minute contests, while Buckley’s most significant recent victories have come within three rounds. Buckley asserts he trains for five rounds and improves as the fight progresses, this remains to be tested against elite UFC competition. While Usman’s experience in championship rounds is often seen as an advantage, it also means more time for an explosive finisher like Buckley to close in on a KO, particularly if Usman’s chin has diminished with age and mileage.

Co-Main Event: Rose Namajunas vs. Miranda Maverick

The co-main event features a compelling women’s flyweight contest with significant divisional implications, as former two-time Strawweight Champion “Thug" Rose Namajunas takes on the surging #11 ranked Miranda “Fear The" Maverick.

Ranked #7 in the UFC Women’s Flyweight division, Rose Namajunas (14-7 MMA, 11-6 in UFC) is one of the most popular fighters in women’s MMA. At 32 years old, the former two-time strawweight queen is known for her highly technical and creative striking, and a wealth of experience in championship-level encounters.

Her transition to the flyweight division though, has been lacklustre; she’s 2-3 in her last five UFC outings. In 2024, Namajunas secured wins over Amanda Ribas and Tracy Cortez but suffered a decision loss to top contender Erin Blanchfield. Despite these mixed results, her talent is undeniable, and she holds the #5 rank for knockdowns landed among active flyweights.

For Namajunas, victory means keeping the fight at her preferred striking distance, utilizing her teeps, probing jab, and overall polished striking acumen, while avoiding prolonged grappling exchanges where Maverick excels.

Miranda Maverick (17-5 MMA, 8-3 in UFC) is currently ranked #11 in the division and is riding a formidable four-fight winning streak. The 27-year-old is a well-rounded fighter with a strong emphasis on grappling, takedowns, and relentless ground control. Her recent victories in 2024 include decision wins over Andrea Lee, Dione Barbosa, and Jamey-Lyn Horth, solidifying her status as a future contender.

Maverick’s path to victory involves making the fight “ugly" with effective clinch work, securing takedowns, and imposing her will on the mat through ground-and-pound. She cannot afford to let Namajunas dictate the range and pace of the fight. Maverick has also mentioned that having trained with Namajunas previously gives her some foresight into the matchup.

Tale of the Tape: Namajunas vs. Maverick

Main Card Breakdown:

• Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Andre Petroski (Middleweight Bout) : This middleweight clash features Edmen Shahbazyan, a young talent aiming to regain consistency, against Andre Petroski, a powerful grappler currently on a three-fight winning streak. Both fighters secured victories in February 2025. This fight is crucial for either man hoping to break into the Top 15.
• Cody Garbrandt vs. Raoni Barcelos (Bantamweight Bout) : Former Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt makes his return after more than a year away due to a health scare. He faces the 38-year-old veteran Raoni Barcelos, who is on a two-fight win streak and recently defeated the previously unbeaten Payton Talbott. This is a pivotal fight for Garbrandt; a strong showing could expedite his climb back up the ladder, while a loss could define his current ceiling.
• Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Cody Brundage (Middleweight Bout) : This matchup pits highly touted prospect Mansur Abdul-Malik against the experienced Cody Brundage. Abdul-Malik seeks to affirm his status as an elite up-and-comer, while Brundage, who has had an inconsistent UFC run (5-5, 1 NC in 11 appearances) , looks to leverage his experience.
• Alonzo Menifield vs. Oumar Sy (Light Heavyweight Bout) : The #15 ranked Alonzo Menifield provides a stern test for Oumar Sy, a top light heavyweight prospect. A victory for Sy could see him enter the Top 15 rankings. Menifield aims to defend his ranking and halt the Frenchman’s ascent.

The Prelims:

• Paul Craig vs. Rodolfo Bellato (Light Heavyweight Bout) : Scotland’s Paul Craig returns to the light heavyweight division after a challenging stint at middleweight. He faces Brazilian Rodolfo Bellato, who is looking for a significant win after his previously scheduled bout against Craig was scrapped due to Craig suffering a herpes infection. Bellato’s last fight was a draw.
• Michael Chiesa vs. Court McGee (Welterweight Bout) : Both Chiesa and McGee are coming off victories that snapped three-fight losing streaks, with Chiesa securing two rear-naked choke wins in 2024 and McGee earning his first finish in over a decade at UFC 307.
• Cody Durden vs. Jose Ochoa (Flyweight Bout) : Veteran Cody Durden takes on prospect Jose Ochoa. Durden aims to rebound from a recent loss, while Ochoa seeks his first UFC victory. Some analysts have highlighted Durden as a potential underdog pick.
• Phil Rowe vs. Ange Loosa (Welterweight Bout) : Two Florida-based welterweights, Phil Rowe and Ange Loosa, are both looking to snap two-fight losing streaks. Rowe has garnered support from some analysts despite his underdog status.
• Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Kris Moutinho (Bantamweight Bout) : Dana White’s Contender Series graduate Malcolm Wellmaker, fighting in his home state of Georgia, impressed with a first-round knockout in his UFC debut. He faces Kris Moutinho, who returns to the UFC after a 5-0 run (all finishes) on the regional circuit.
• Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth (Women’s Flyweight Bout) : Vanessa Demopoulos steps in as a replacement for Tereza Bleda. Both Demopoulos and Horth are looking to bounce back from recent losses in this flyweight contest.
• Ricky Simon vs. Cameron Smotherman (Bantamweight Bout) : Cameron Smotherman takes this fight on short notice, replacing Charles Jourdain. This late change introduces an element of unpredictability. Ricky, on a full fight camp, will likely emerge the winner.

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News sports UFC Fight Night: Will A Returning Usman Be Put To Test By The 'Explosive' Buckley?