Kamaru Usman has said going into Saturday’s bout with Joachin Buckley, he believed he could still perform at the highest level.
Usman claimed his first win in more than three years at UFC Fight Night in Atlanta, as he defeated Buckley by unanimous decision in their welterweight main event.
All three judges scored the bout for Usman, via scores of 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47. It was Usman’s first victory since November 2021 and ended a three-fight losing streak.
The 38-year-old, came off a 20-month layoff to face Buckley on Saturday, and relied heavily on his collegiate wrestling background, particularly through the first four rounds.
He took Buckley down in each of the first four rounds and had very little difficulty keeping Buckley on his back and racking up offense.
“It’s been a while,” Usman said in the postfight interview (via ESPN). “I needed to get that monkey off my back. I know I’m still able to do this at the highest level. … I expected him to be really tough, which he was. He’s a very talented guy.
“I show love and respect to all of these guys because I know what it takes to work and get here.”
Everything nearly changed in the last round, as Usman started to fade and telegraph his shots.
According to UFC Stats, he went 4-for-7 on takedown attempts in the first four rounds and 0-for-6 in the final five minutes.
Buckley, 31, came on strong and appeared to hurt Usman with winging hooks and uppercuts. Usman’s experience paid off, though, and he managed to avoid the big shot.
The loss ended Buckley’s six-fight winning streak. Four of those six wins had come via knockout.
