Kamaru Usman turned back the clock at UFC Atlanta and reminded everyone why they used to call him the welterweight king. The former champion had been struggling lately, losing three fights in a row since 2022. Critics were starting to whisper that maybe his time was up. At 38 years old, Usman faced serious questions about whether he could still hang with the division’s hungry young wolves.<\/p>
Joaquin Buckley had been tearing through the welterweight ranks like a buzzsaw. Buckley dropped down from middleweight and immediately started collecting scalps. He had beaten big names like Stephen Thompson and Colby Covington. Many fans saw this as Buckley’s chance to announce himself as a title contender. Instead, Usman showed the young gun that experience still matters in this game. The ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ delivered a vintage performance that silenced his doubters and sent a clear message to the entire division.<\/p>
Usman’s game plan was simple but brutally effective from the opening bell. He mixed wrestling with ground control to neutralize Buckley’s striking power. The first round set the tone perfectly. Usman shot for takedowns early and often, putting Buckley on his back repeatedly. Once on top, he made Buckley carry his full body weight while landing sharp elbows from dominant positions.<\/p>
The second and third rounds followed the same script. Buckley tried to keep things standing, but Usman’s wrestling was just too strong. Every time Buckley found some success on the feet, Usman would drag him back down. The former champion opened up a cut above Buckley’s right eye with those nasty ground strikes. By the fourth round, you could see the frustration building in Buckley’s corner.<\/p>