By Victor Kanayo
Nigerian-born Kamaru Usman, early Sunday morning, overcame Joaquin Buckley of the USA to enjoy his first victory after three years.
Specifically, Usman’s triumph came in 1,316 days.
The welterweight bout between former champion Usman, ranked No. 5, and No. 7 ranked Joaquin Buckley headlined the UFC Atlanta fight card at State Farm Arena.
The former UFC welterweight champion showcased the skills that made him one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world, employing elite wrestling combined with timely and technical striking.
Usman’s Topsy-Turvy Path
Usman secured the victory after five rounds, with the scorecards reading 49-46, 49-46, and 49-46 in his favour.
Usman, 38, was widely considered the unanimous No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the sport for the majority of his championship run from 2019-21, securing five successful title defences and setting a new standard for UFC welterweight dominance, winning a record-setting 15 consecutive bouts at 170 pounds to kick off his Octagon career.
His historic title reign ended in historic fashion, though, when Leon Edwards authored a legendary fifth-round comeback in 2022 to steal away the belt.
Usman’s last fight before this was in October 2023, where he faced Buckley, who was eager to extend his winning streak.
Buckley Timeline
Buckley had been on a six-fight winning streak, having achieved a notable victory against former interim titleholder Colby Covington via doctor stoppage last December.
Of his 27 career wins, 15 have come by knockout.
