Nigeria's Kamaru Usman
Nigeria’s Kamaru Usman has made a thunderous return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) with a dominant unanimous decision victory over America’s Joaquin Buckley at UFC Fight Night in Atlanta, US.
The 38-year-old former welterweight champion and Number 1 pound-for-pound candidate, who came off a 20-month layoff, showcased his collegiate wrestling prowess, taking Buckley down in each of the first four rounds.
“It’s been a while,”* he said in the post-fight interview, his voice choked with emotion.
“I needed to get that monkey off my back. I know I’m still able to do this at the highest level.”*
The victory was a testament to Usman’s experience and skill, as he weathered a strong finish from Buckley in the final round.
Despite being a significant betting underdog, Usman’s wrestling background and ring generalship proved decisive, with all three judges scoring the bout in his favor (49-46, 49-46, and 48-47).
Buckley, who had been on a six-fight winning streak before this bout, showed respect for Usman, saying, “I’m going to be honest, I’m just glad to be in this Octagon with someone who is known as one of the best.”
The win has positioned Usman as a legitimate contender for a potential welterweight title fight against the winner of the bout between Jack Maddalena and Islam Makhachev. With this victory, Usman has sent a strong message to the welterweight division, proving that he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level.
