Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

UFC Fight Night – Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley Tale of the Tape and Head-to-Head Comparison

Usman’s experience meets Buckley’s momentum in a high-stakes welterweight clash.

Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

The welterweight division gets a jolt as Kamaru Usman faces off against surging finisher Joaquin Buckley. They will lock horns on June 14 in State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It’s a battle of legacy vs. momentum. Usman, the former champ with relentless pressure and championship grit, takes on Buckley, the explosive striker riding a wave of highlight-reel knockouts.

What makes this matchup compelling is the clash of eras. Usman is fighting to prove he’s still a force at the top. Buckley, meanwhile, is looking to break into elite territory by taking out a name that once ruled the division.

Dominating his new division 👏@Newmansa94 has a record of 6-0 since moving to welterweight! Will he remain unbeaten this weekend?

[ B2YB the UFC Insights Engine built by IBM watsonx ] pic.twitter.com/UdjPw71vly
— UFC (@ufc) June 13, 2025

Kamaru Usman’s MMA Journey

Kamaru Usman, former UFC welterweight champion and current No. 5 in the rankings, has walked a long and disciplined road to the top. Born in Nigeria, Usman immigrated to the United States with his family at age eight. Wrestling became his foundation, and he quickly made waves, posting a 53-3 record and finishing third in the Texas state championships.

His collegiate wrestling career took him from William Penn University to the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where he truly broke out. In 2010, Usman claimed the NCAA Division II national title at 174 pounds, capping a dominant season with 30 straight wins. After falling short in his Olympic freestyle wrestling pursuit, he turned his focus to mixed martial arts in 2012.

Like many future stars, Usman paid his dues on the regional scene before earning a UFC debut in December 2015, ironically, against Leon Edwards. He won by unanimous decision. Four years later, at UFC 235, Usman captured the welterweight title with a dominant win over Tyron Woodley. He went on to defend the belt five times, establishing himself as one of the most dominant champions of his era.

But all reigns end. In August 2022, Usman was knocked out by Edwards in a shocking reversal at UFC 278. The rematch in 2023 saw Edwards retain the title via decision. Most recently, Usman stepped up to middleweight at UFC 294 in October 2023, where he dropped a close decision to rising star Khamzat Chimaev.

Kamaru Usman MMA Record

24 Matches	20 Wins	4 Losses
By Knockout	9	1
By Submission	1	1
By Decision	10	2

Joaquin Buckley’s MMA Journey

Joaquin Buckley, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, began his combat journey on the wrestling mats at Marquette High School. His transition to professional MMA came in 2014, competing in promotions like Bellator MMA and Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) before earning his shot in the UFC.

Buckley made his UFC debut in August 2020 at UFC Fight Night, where he faced Kevin Holland and suffered a TKO loss. But it was his next fight that flipped the script. Against Impa Kasanganay, Buckley delivered one of the most iconic knockouts in UFC history, a spinning back kick that instantly went viral. From that moment on, the “New Mansa” had arrived.

Though a natural welterweight, Buckley spent a few years at middleweight from 2019 to 2022, testing his power against bigger opponents. Remarkably, none of his wins or losses have come by submission, a testament to his striking-heavy style. His nickname, “New Mansa,” is a tribute to Mansa Musa, the legendary ruler of the Mali Empire, symbolizing both pride and leadership.

Currently riding a six-fight win streak, Buckley’s momentum is real. His most recent victory was a TKO over former title challenger Colby Covington in December 2024.

Joaquin Buckley MMA Record

27 Matches	21 Wins	6 Losses
By Knockout	15	4
By Decision	6	2

A knockout we'll never forget 🤩

Catch @NewMansa94 back in action on Saturday night headlining #UFCAtlanta 🫡

[ LIVE SAT 10pmET on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/xBAgTnwdkC
— UFC (@ufc) June 12, 2025

Kamaru Usman vs Joaquin Buckley: Tale of the Tape

Tale of the Tape	Kamaru Usman	Joaquin Buckley
Record	20-4	21-6
Height	6’0″ (183cm)	5’10” (178cm)
Weight	171 lbs.	171 lbs.
Reach	76.0″ (193cm)	76.0″ (193cm)
Stance	Switch	Southpaw
D.O.B.	May 11, 1987	April 27, 1994

Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley: Head-to-Head Record

Kamaru Usman and Joaquin Buckley do not have a head-to-head record yet. UFC on ESPN 69 in Atlanta will be their first-ever meeting.

Also Read: “He’s Trying To Delay This” – Paul Hughes Voices His Frustration Over Usman Nurmagomedov Situation

Joaquin Buckley

Kamaru Usman

UFC

Rudra Dubey

nfl

mma

I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.