At UFC Atlanta, Kamaru Usman showed glimpses of the dominance that made him a long-reigning welterweight king, holding the title for 1,267 days. ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ delivered a vintage performance, earning a unanimous decision victory over Joaquin Buckley with scores of 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47. Recently, Usman opened up about just how much that win meant to him.
From the very first round, Usman brought the pressure, overwhelming Buckley with dominant ground-and-pound. He is likely punching his ticket back into title contention. The former welterweight champion’s emotion was evident in his post-fight Octagon interview, as fans witnessed a rare vulnerable moment. Speaking with TMZ Sports, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ opened up about the significance of the win:
“I didn’t even realize until people started saying that, ‘Oh, you haven’t won a fight since 2021.’ It kind of stuck with me, and it hurt me a bit.”
Kamaru Usman explained why winning the Buckley fight was so important.
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) June 18, 2025
"I didn’t even realize until people started saying that, ‘Oh, you haven’t won a fight since 2021.’ It kind of stuck with me, and it hurt me a bit."
🎥: @TMZ_Sports pic.twitter.com/2JSw7xbMrx
The Nigerian fighter also revealed his desire to make another run at the title and opened up about his retirement plans. Usman said that if Islam Makhachev captures the 170-pound belt, a title fight against him would be the perfect way to end his career.
Belal Muhammad Targets Kamaru Usman In Pursuit Of Title Shot
Fresh off his dominant win over Buckley, Kamaru Usman is back in the spotlight—and so is the competition. Usman’s sharp elbows and relentless pace earned him a unanimous decision, with scores of 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47. Leaving Buckley bloodied and struggling through the bout. Not wasting any time, Belal Muhammad issued a callout in response. In a recent video, Muhammad said:
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“We have history, we’ve been going back and forth. It’s a clear No. 1 contender fight. I’m still the No. 1 contender. He can pick the time, date, and place. I’ll be ready. Hopefully, the UFC makes it.”
Muhammad, who dropped his title to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315, is hungry for redemption. Muhammad views Usman as the perfect opponent to climb back to the top. Meanwhile, fans can expect an epic showdown between two elite welterweights if ‘Remember the Name’ steps into the Octagon with Usman.
Also Read: UFC Atlanta Purse: How Much Money Did Kamaru Usman Earn Defeating Joaquin Buckley?
