At UFC Atlanta, former UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman secured a unanimous decision win against Joaquin Buckley in one of Buckley’s most high-profile fights to date. The bout, held recently in Atlanta, showcased Usman’s dominant grappling skills, which ultimately overcame Buckley’s efforts and prevented him from inching closer to a potential title shot. Despite Buckley’s resilience, particularly in the final round where he thwarted takedowns and landed precise strikes, Usman controlled much of the fight.
Joaquin Buckley Reflects on His Performance and Future Plans
Following the loss, Joaquin Buckley addressed his supporters on Instagram, acknowledging that he was unable to fully execute his strategy due to Usman’s effective grappling. He expressed pride in his overall journey and fight preparation, emphasizing that the plan was carefully crafted even though the final execution fell short of his standards.
Buckley noted that Usman prioritized holding him down rather than inflicting damage during the contest, which was a tactical move to secure the win. He congratulated Usman and his team, including praise for @francisngannou, expressing enthusiasm about the current state of the welterweight division.
Hand wasn’t raised last night but I am still victorious and will be one of the greats. This trip has been beyond amazing and I wouldn’t change a thing that happened in my fight camp everything was perfectly planned I just didn’t execute like I know I could… we wanted to land early damage on Usman and get him moving back but he did a good job neutralizing threats with takedowns.
—Joaquin Buckley
But don’t get it twisted Usman was more concerned about holding me than hurting me in this fight but he did what he felt was necessary to win and so can’t be mad at him Congrats to @usman84kg and his Team and @francisngannou. Excited about the welterweight division.
—Joaquin Buckley
See ya when I see ya.
—Joaquin Buckley
What Buckley’s Defeat Means Moving Forward
This loss marks the end of Buckley’s six-fight winning streak, his first defeat since late 2022. Despite the setback, Buckley remains determined and confident about his ability to recover in future matchups. His positive outlook and commitment to improvement suggest he will continue to be a notable presence in the UFC welterweight division. Fans can anticipate his efforts to regain momentum in upcoming bouts.