At UFC Atlanta, Kamaru Usman dominated Joaquin Buckley in a decisive welterweight main event, demonstrating his wrestling skill throughout the fight. The wrestler’s relentless takedowns and control left Buckley struggling to respond from the start, establishing Usman’s dominance as the key factor in the bout’s outcome.

Buckley admitted his discomfort on the mat, saying,

You talk about every round he took me down, kept me there, I couldn’t get back to my feet,

—Joaquin Buckley. Despite his attempts to return to a standing position, the referee did not intervene, forcing Buckley to spend nearly every round in a defensive posture on the ground.

Buckley Reflects on the Fight, Expressing Embarrassment but Respect for Usman

The lopsided loss was particularly difficult for Buckley, who described feelings of humiliation after his performance.

I’m not going to lie to y’all, I feel so embarrassed because of that loss. I feel so humiliated because of that loss. But at the same time, I have to bow my head: Usman showed me who he was. … That night, it really showed that there’s levels to this game,

he said. The experience highlighted to Buckley the gap between himself and Usman on that night.

While Buckley found some success standing in the later rounds, it was not enough to sway the judges. Usman’s grappling control remained the dominant aspect, as Buckley tried unsuccessfully to secure a finish in the final round despite defending six takedown attempts.

Buckley Defends His Wrestling Ability and Attributes the Loss to Execution

Challenging critics who questioned his grappling, Buckley emphasized that his failure to wrestle effectively was not due to a lack of skill but rather a lapse in execution.

Y’all talking about I can’t wrestle, what are ya’ll talking about?,

he stated, referencing his previous performance against Colby Covington.

Y’all seen my last fight with Colby, and Colby is arguably a better wrestler than Usman. … So don’t disrespect me by saying I can’t wrestle, because you saw in that fifth round, my ass can wrestle. I just didn’t show up. I didn’t execute. That’s on me.

Buckley acknowledged being overwhelmed by the occasion and the opponent’s reputation.

And I allowed myself to be in that moment for too long. I was mesmerized, man. I’m seeing Francis Ngannou across the cage from Kamaru Usman, and I’m just looking like, ‘I get to show these guys how great I am. I get to show these guys that I’m that one,’ instead of just realizing that the man that’s in front of me right now, he’s trying to hold me down. And I paid for it.

This reflection underlines the psychological challenge Buckley faced besides the physical toll from Usman’s wrestling.

Impact of the Loss and Buckley’s Determination to Continue Pursuing the Title

The defeat ended Buckley’s impressive six-fight winning streak in the welterweight division, a run that had included stoppage victories over top contenders like Colby Covington, Vicente Luque, and Stephen Thompson in 2024. Despite this setback, Buckley remains confident in his path to the championship belt.

Speaking on the fight’s significance, he remarked,

It was Usman’s night,

but affirmed,

I’ve just got to give all respect to that guy for actually taking this fight and giving me an opportunity. But, yet again, the focus doesn’t change. We taking the throne. Period. We taking the throne — it’s just not today.

This determination suggests Buckley is already preparing for future high-stakes matches, aiming to reclaim momentum and pursue UFC gold once more.