Joaquin Buckley had one of the most brutal fights in UFC Atlanta. Facing Kamaru Usman, Buckley was quite confident. And why not? He was coming off a six-fight winning streak. Unfortunately, all of that confidence fizzled out soon as the fight got underway. Kamaru Usman put up a tactical masterclass. While Usman continued to dominate, Buckley looked helpless in the middle. Now, after suffering a bitter defeat, the big welterweight has finally broken his silence.
Buckley recently reflected on his fight with Usman. Giving props to the former champion, Buckley didn’t hesitate to call him the GOAT. Next, the ‘New Mansa’ stated that the loss would allow him time to do some self-analysis. He will take a temporary break from fighting and hopes to return stronger with new tools.
“Shoutout to Kamaru Usman. You are truly a legend, you are truly a GOAT… I didn’t get my hand raised but it’s all good. It gives me time to take a break and work on some tools,” said Buckley.
👏Joaquin Buckley speaks out after his loss at #UFCAtlanta:
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) June 15, 2025
"Shoutout to Kamaru Usman. You are truly a legend, you are truly a GOAT…
I didn’t get my hand raised but it’s all good. It gives me time to take a break and work on some tools."
🎥 @Newmansa94 ▫️ pic.twitter.com/VmTX6Eefuu
Surely, nobody expected such dominance from the returning legend. With speculations about his knee going wild, Usman proved he still has it. And now, with the confidence up, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ has called out Islam Makhachev.
Kamaru Usman Calls Out Islam Makhachev
Kamaru Usman has been aiming for a second run as a welterweight champion. And after a strong showing in UFC Atlanta, he is ever so excited. Speaking about the same, Usman stated that if Makhachev manages to defeat Jack Della Maddalena, he will be happy to fight the Dagestani.
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“Let’s be honest, I’m the biggest in the division… If Islam [beats JDM], former pound-for-pound, current pound-for-pound. Who doesn’t pay for that,” said Usman.
Kamaru Usman is eyeing a title shot next after his win at #UFCAtlanta 👀
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 15, 2025
“Let’s be honest, I’m the biggest in the division…
If Islam [beats JDM], former pound-for-pound, current pound-for-pound. Who doesn’t pay for that.”
🎥 @ufcpic.twitter.com/JCyoSyYliO
Thus, with a lot of possibilities coming up, it now remains to be seen what’s next.
Also Read: UFC Atlanta Purse: How Much Money Did Kamaru Usman Earn Defeating Joaquin Buckley?
