Kamaru Usman ended a challenging period in his career by decisively defeating Joaquin Buckley by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night over the weekend.
This victory marked Usman’s first win since November 2021, halting a three-fight losing streak and re-establishing him as one of the best welterweight fighters of all time.
Usman’s wrestling background proved superior in this fight. From the outset, he controlled the pace and space, taking Buckley down on multiple occasions.
He successfully completed four of seven takedown attempts, maintaining dominant ground control and delivering consistent ground-and-pound attacks that kept Buckley on the defensive.
The post-match statistics properly illustrate how much better Usman was at this match. He landed an impressive 127 of 217 total strikes, achieving a striking accuracy of 58.5%, while Buckley managed only 28 of 94 strikes at 29.8% accuracy.
Usman also outperformed Buckley in significant strikes, landing 31 of 73 compared to Buckley’s 24 of 90. Notably, Buckley failed to land any takedowns or attempt submissions during the fight.
The fight’s rounds were a reflection of Usman’s strategic approach. He controlled the first two rounds with clinical wrestling, out-landing Buckley 16-0 in significant strikes early on.
Buckley landed some clean shots in the third round, but Usman responded with another takedown and maintained top control, briefly advancing to mount position.
The fourth round saw Buckley’s best striking combinations, but Usman again took the fight to the ground, ending the round in back mount. The final round featured exchanges on the feet, but Buckley was unable to mount a comeback.
Usman expressed relief and satisfaction after the fight, as it meant he still has it in him. “It feels good,” he said, “It’s been a while; I needed to get that monkey off my back.” He also declared himself the boogeyman, as he announced his return to other fighters.
