Joaquin Buckley has expressed a desire to train with Kamaru Usman following their bout at UFC Atlanta, where Buckley lost by unanimous decision. Rather than seeking an immediate rematch, Buckley wants to learn from Usman’s techniques, especially the wrestling skills that gave him trouble during their fight.
During their recent contest, Usman’s dominance on the ground highlighted Buckley’s difficulty in countering a wrestler of his caliber, leading to Buckley’s defeat. Recognizing this gap in his fighting approach, Buckley stated he wants to understand how Usman devised the winning game plan to improve his own skill set.
Buckley’s Request to Usman: A Chance to Learn from the Champion
In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Buckley directly addressed Usman with a request to train together, emphasizing his respect for the champion and willingness to grow:
“[Kamaru] Usman, if you’re listening to this, I want to work with out, man. I want to learn from the person [who] beat me. I want to learn how did you set up a game plan to beat me, right? Cuz, a lot of fighters as soon as they lose to somebody, ‘Oh man, I got to get that back. Man, I need that. Rematch, rematch.’ Like nah, f**k that. I got my opportunity and I f**ked it up.”
Buckley further explained his mindset, focusing on closing the gaps Usman exposed and preparing himself better against future opponents. He expressed admiration for Usman and his coach Trevor Wittman, recognizing them as some of the best in the sport to work with:
“Now, let me see what Kamaru Usman knew about me that I ain’t know about myself, and I can close that hole. So, the next motherf**ker, don’t do it. And I’ll be so honored and so privileged to work with you and Trevor Wittman. I think you guys are some of the best in the world.”
Usman Offers Guidance to Buckley on His Path Forward
Following their fight, Kamaru Usman invited Buckley onto his podcast, Pound 4 Pound, where he shared advice and encouragement. Usman recognized Buckley’s potential and confidence, suggesting that only a few adjustments are necessary to elevate his fighting to the next level. He acknowledged Buckley’s resilience and emphasized how refining certain skills could make him even more dangerous:
“Confidence is a big thing that you need to have in this game, and you have that right now, and that’s what makes it very, very scary and very, very dangerous. And that’s what I said even after this fight. The only thing this fight is going to show you is ‘Hey, I just need to tweak that skill. If I can tweak that skill, I’m in there because it’s not like I went out there and got my face destroyed.’… ‘If I tweak that, I’m going to be even more dangerous.’ And so, that’s what I would say for you.”
What This Means for Buckley’s Future in the UFC
Buckley’s approach to his loss demonstrates a rare openness to learning from an opponent, especially one as accomplished as Kamaru Usman. By seeking to train alongside Usman and Trevor Wittman, Buckley aims to shore up weaknesses that became apparent during UFC Atlanta and develop a more versatile fighting style. This strategy could significantly enhance his competitiveness in upcoming matches and help him rebound more effectively in the welterweight division.
Usman’s willingness to offer advice and possibly collaborate in training underscores the mutual respect between the two fighters. Should this partnership come to fruition, it could serve as a valuable turning point in Buckley’s career and influence how fighters handle setbacks in the sport.