After nearly four years without a win and growing speculation about his decline, Kamaru Usman made a powerful statement at UFC Atlanta on Saturday night, delivering a dominant performance that reasserted his place among the sport’s elite welterweights, according to MMAFighting.
The former champion didn’t just defeat Joaquin Buckley — he dismantled him. From the opening exchange to the final bell, Usman relied on the core strengths that defined his championship reign: relentless wrestling, suffocating top control, and an unforgiving pace. It was vintage Usman, and the timing couldn’t have been more critical.
“It feels good,” Usman said after the win. “It’s been a while; I needed to get that monkey off my back. I know I’m still able to do this at the highest level. Sometimes, when you’re going up against a young, hungry guy like that — very talented, very aggressive — you’ve got to pull out the skills and use the experience. That’s what I did tonight.”
Following consecutive losses and a long layoff amid concerns about his knees, many had begun to write Usman off. But when the cage closed, it was the veteran — not the rising prospect — who looked like the future of the division.
“I know it’s a running joke,” Usman said. “Everybody wants to get on the internet and talk rubbish. Oh, his knees, his knees! Well, shut the f\*ck up, I can still do what I do.”And that’s exactly what he proved. Usman dictated the tempo from the outset, taking Buckley down with ease and maintaining control on the ground for most of the fight. He opened a cut early, stifled Buckley’s attacks, and nullified nearly every attempt to get back to his feet. Even when Buckley showed a late surge in the final round, the result was already beyond doubt — Usman’s dominance had secured the victory.
This was more than a win — it was a warning. After years at the top followed by a steep fall, Usman didn’t come back to simply preserve his legacy. He returned to reclaim what he still believes is rightfully his.“I can do that to anybody,” Usman said. “Any one of them. Those knockouts will come; I just needed this monkey off my back. The rest of the welterweight division, listen — I have been and always will be the f\*cking boogeyman.”
For Buckley, who showed determination despite being outclassed, the fight was a milestone and a valuable lesson. “I’m beyond just honoured to be in this octagon with somebody who’s known as one of the best,” Buckley said. “One of the GOATs to do it. For us to go five rounds, to put on an amazing fight, I’m just so happy. I’ve come a long way and you all see me here. This isn’t going to be the end. We’re just getting started.”
Whether this win propels Usman back into title contention remains to be seen. But one thing is clear — the Nigerian Nightmare is far from finished, and the rest of the welterweight division should take notice.
