Kamaru Usman made a dominant return to the win column with a brutal ground-and-pound victory over Joaquin Buckley in the UFC Atlanta main event on Saturday night.
The former welterweight champion, fighting for the first time since his middleweight debut loss to Khamzat Chimaev, showcased his elite grappling skills to overwhelm Buckley and secure a second-round stoppage.
From the opening bell, Usman imposed his will, closing the distance and dragging Buckley to the mat.
Despite Buckley’s explosive striking reputation, he had no answer for Usman’s relentless top pressure and vicious ground strikes.
The referee finally intervened at 3:21 of the second round after Usman postured up and unleashed a series of unanswered hammerfists.
Post-fight, a fired-up Usman declared, “The boogeyman is back!” signalling his intent to reclaim his status as one of the sport’s most feared competitors. “I needed this. I had to remind everyone who I am,” he added, addressing his recent setbacks.
The win revives Usman’s career at 185 pounds, potentially setting up high-profile matchups in the stacked middleweight division.
Meanwhile, Buckley, who entered the bout on a five-fight win streak, suffered his first defeat since 2022. UFC CEO Dana White praised Usman’s performance, hinting at big opportunities ahead for “The Nigerian Nightmare.” With this statement victory, Usman has firmly re-established himself as a force to be reckoned with.