Kamaru Usman Dominates Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta: "The Boogeyman Is Back"

Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman reminded the MMA world of his dominance with a commanding performance against Joaquin Buckley in the main event of UFC Atlanta. After nearly four years without a win, Usman returned to form with a shutout decision victory, showcasing the elite wrestling and relentless pressure that once made him the king of the 170-pound division.

From the opening bell, Usman executed a textbook game plan — close the distance, score takedowns, and impose suffocating top control. He secured takedowns in each of the first three rounds and punished Buckley with a steady barrage of ground-and-pound. A slicing elbow in the opening round opened a cut on Buckley, who spent most of the fight trapped under the former champion with few answers.

Despite a valiant effort in the final round where Buckley stuffed takedowns and landed heavy shots, the damage had long been done. Usman absorbed Buckley’s best punches and answered with yet another takedown, ending the fight in dominant fashion on top once again.

“It feels good,” Usman said after the victory. “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."

“I expected him to be really, really tough, which he was. I know what it takes to work and get up in here. Thank you to him for bringing everything that he brought.”

Usman's critics had questioned whether his knees were too damaged to wrestle effectively again. After this vintage performance, Usman fired back with a strong message to his doubters.

“I know it’s a running joke,” he said. “Everybody wants to get on the internet and talk shit. Oh his knees, his knees! Well shut the f*ck up, I can still do what I do.”

For Buckley, the fight was a learning experience and a chance to test himself against an all-time great. Despite the loss, he took the moment in stride.

“I’m beyond just honored 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 done come a long way and you all see me here. This ain’t going to be the end. We just getting started.”

With this dominant win, Usman reestablishes himself as a major threat in the welterweight title picture. He made it clear that his time at the top isn’t over yet.

“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.”