Joaquin Buckley’s wrestling weaknesses were fully exposed during his one-sided defeat to Kamaru Usman in their recent fight in Georgia. The loss, a unanimous decision on June 14, halted Buckley’s six-fight winning streak and highlighted significant gaps in his grappling defense against top welterweight competition.
Dominance by Usman Highlights Buckley’s Grappling Struggles
Buckley headlined his second consecutive Fight Night event but faced a tough challenge against the returning former champion Usman. Throughout the first four rounds, Usman consistently took Buckley down and maintained control on the mat, limiting Buckley’s ability to mount meaningful offense. Despite a brief striking surge late in the fifth round, Buckley was unable to recover from Usman’s dominance on the ground.
The judges awarded Usman a unanimous decision with scores of 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47. Commentators Paul Felder and Dominick Cruz criticized Buckley’s defensive wrestling, emphasizing that Buckley’s approach needs substantial improvement to compete with the welterweight elite.
Online Fans Call for Buckley to Sharpen Wrestling Skills
Fans on platforms like Reddit also reacted strongly, urging Buckley to overhaul his wrestling game. Many suggested that training with Islam Makhachev’s camp in Dagestan, renowned for its wrestling focus, could benefit Buckley immensely. Users noted Buckley’s offensive wrestling had moments of promise but identified his exposed back as a critical weakness.
“It’s so weird to see Buck (Joaquin Buckley) with absolutely no clue how to get up,”
a Reddit user remarked.
“His offensive wrestling isn’t bad. Apparently his back is a big weakness though. Now we know.”
Another user recalled Buckley’s confidence before the match about his ability to deny takedowns from Makhachev, which contrasted sharply with his current performance.
“Still remember when he said Islam wouldn’t take him down,”
the user wrote.
A third comment expressed disappointment over Buckley’s lack of answers during the fight, calling the bout “depressing” to watch.
“This is depressing to watch. He got no answer for the takedown.”
Usman Reaffirms Status as Welterweight ‘Boogeyman’
For Usman, the victory marked his first since 2021 after nearly two years away from competition. Initially expected to be starting a retirement tour, Usman instead used his comeback fight to send a clear message to rival welterweights, asserting he remains the division’s top threat.
The Auchi native disparaged concerns about his knees as excuses from opponents and reiterated his dominance in the welterweight class despite having lost the title three years prior.
“Oh, his knees, his knees. Well, shut the f*ck up. I could still do what I do,”
Usman told Paul Felder after the fight.
“The rest of the welterweight division, listen. I have been and always will be the f*cking boogeyman.”
—Kamaru Usman, Post-fight Interview
Outlook for Buckley and Impact on the Welterweight Division
Following this setback, Buckley must reassess his game plan and focus on improving his wrestling defense if he wishes to ascend again in the welterweight rankings. His ground vulnerabilities proved costly against a veteran like Usman. Conversely, Usman’s performance serves as a warning to the rest of the division that he remains an intimidating competitor despite past injuries and a brief hiatus.
Buckley’s wrestling weaknesses exposed against Usman not only highlight the technical gaps but also underline the need for disciplined, focused training in grappling to compete at the highest level. How Buckley responds to this loss will be critical for his future success within the UFC’s welterweight landscape.