Usman Defeats Buckley, Eyes Title Shot at UFC

Kamaru Usman broke a three-fight losing streak with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta on June 14, 2025, using his wrestling to end Buckley's six-fight win streak. The win reestablished Usman as a top welterweight contender and was emotionally significant for him. Usman stated his intention to challenge the winner of the upcoming welterweight title fight between Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev, aiming to reclaim the championship before considering a move to middleweight. Buckley, despite the defeat, expressed respect for Usman and plans to focus on improving his skills. The MMA community, including figures like Henry Cejudo and John McCarthy, praised Usman's comeback. Additionally, Belal Muhammad publicly called out Usman, seeking to resolve their rivalry and position himself for a title shot.