This is a recap of the full fight between Kamaru Usman and Joaquin Buckley, which served as the main event at UFC Atlanta on Saturday night.
The bout took place on June 14th at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Kamaru Usman (holding a record of 21 wins and 4 losses) squared off against Joaquin Buckley (with a record of 20 wins and 7 losses) in the main event clash. The fight was broadcast live on ESPN and ESPN+.
Round 1
The fighters skipped the glove touch, indicating a serious start. The opening moments were tense, with both attempting strikes but neither landing effectively. Usman then secured a surprisingly easy takedown with minimal effort, immediately putting Buckley in a difficult position on the ground for the remainder of the round.
From the top, Usman maintained heavy pressure, landing occasional punches while controlling Buckley. This dominant ground strategy, although not popular with the live crowd, was highly effective. Buckley suffered a cut near his right eye. Usman landed significant strikes as the round concluded. This round was clearly in Usman`s favor, close to a 10-8 score.
Score: 10-9 Usman
Round 2
Buckley needed to create significant action to regain momentum after being controlled in the first round. He landed a good left hand to start the second. Usman faked a takedown, and Buckley reacted strongly. Buckley attempted a jumping knee that fell short, then a combination that didn`t achieve much. Usman shot for a takedown from a considerable distance and, once again, easily took Buckley down.
The crowd booed loudly, but Usman remained focused on maintaining top control and making the fight difficult for Buckley. Usman stayed on top with Buckley having no apparent answers for the grappling. In the final 15 seconds, Usman advanced to full mount and landed a few punches. Usman confidently tried to stand over Buckley at the horn, but Buckley turtled up, causing Usman to stumble slightly. Through 10 minutes, the fight was entirely dictated by Usman.
Score: 10-9 Usman (20-18 overall for Usman)
Round 3
The bout had been largely one-sided up to this point. Buckley charged forward with punches, grazing Usman. When Buckley was active and throwing, he found some limited success, but if he paused, Usman would capitalize. For the first 90 seconds, Buckley managed to stay on his feet. Buckley landed a clean uppercut that seemed to bother Usman slightly. The former champion reset and threw a body kick. Buckley ducked under a loose left hook from Usman and landed a beautiful left hand.
Usman immediately reacted by grabbing a single leg, and Buckley was easily taken down yet again, drawing further boos from the crowd. Usman applied pressure on the ground. Buckley attempted to smile despite the situation, but he appeared destined to lose his third straight round. He desperately needed to defend takedowns to have a chance, as Usman landed mounted elbows to finish the round.
Score: 10-9 Usman (30-27 overall for Usman)
Round 4
The live betting odds reflected Usman`s dominance, showing him as a significant favorite. Despite commentary suggesting Buckley wasn`t out of the fight, each passing minute made that less likely. Buckley stayed at a distance but landed a nice combination when he closed the gap. In close quarters, they exchanged, with Buckley having a slight edge in that exchange.
Buckley landed a good uppercut, and Usman responded with a right hand. Buckley switched stances, landing a left, a knee to the body, and another left before switching back to southpaw. Usman landed a clean jab. Usman then charged in for a double leg takedown. Buckley was talking trash while defending, but Usman took a deep breath and completed the takedown.
The ease with which Usman took Buckley down was truly surprising, especially given Buckley`s previous performances. It appeared as though Buckley`s takedown defense was unprepared for this level. In the final 30 seconds, Buckley was unlikely to return to his feet. Any bettors who backed Buckley were likely unhappy with the unfolding events.
Score: 10-9 Usman (40-36 overall for Usman)
Round 5
Entering the final round, Buckley needed a desperate, high-pressure attack. He tried to start strong but soon settled into primarily stance switching without significant offensive output. Usman attempted a single leg, then a double leg, both of which Buckley managed to defend.
Usman snapped Buckley`s head back with a jab. Usman shot a somewhat relaxed single leg and nearly secured the takedown, but Buckley defended again. Usman shot once more, and Buckley defended, making Usman pay with a good strike in the process. The momentum appeared to be shifting slightly, but it was likely too late in the fight. Buckley landed a nice combination. Usman wisely pushed Buckley against the fence to control him, drawing boos from the crowd again before Buckley separated.
Buckley landed big left hands, needing a knockout with under a minute remaining. He landed a counter left and narrowly missed an uppercut. In the final 30 seconds, Buckley unleashed a significant combination, forcing Usman to retreat. Buckley landed a final big left hand at the horn. While Buckley clearly won the fifth round, it was not enough to overcome Usman`s dominance in the earlier rounds.
Score: 10-9 Buckley
Final Score: 49-46 overall for Kamaru Usman.
