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This edition of Sportskeeda's MMA news round-up focuses on the recently concluded UFC Atlanta event. Headlined by a welterweight contest between former champion Kamaru Usman and rising contender Joaquin Buckley, the event delivered some memorable performances as well as a few controversial moments.
Kamaru Usman returns to winning ways
Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman faced a tough period in his career after securing his fifth title defense against Colby Covington at UFC 268 in November 2021. After he lost three consecutive fights against Leon Edwards (X2) and Khamzat Chimaev in subsequent years, many observers believed the 38-year-old was past his prime.
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However, Usman returned to form at UFC Atlanta on June 14, snapping Joaquin Buckley's six-fight win streak. Usman showcased his dominant wrestling and the ability to maintain composure when under fire, ultimately cruising to a comfortable unanimous decision win.
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While the recurring concerns about his knee health remain, the performance demonstrated that he still possesses the competitive drive to succeed.
Check out Kamaru Usman's UFC Atlanta octagon interview below:
Joaquin Buckley stopped by UFC Atlanta security
In a surprising incident, UFC Atlanta headliner Joaquin Buckley and his team were briefly stopped by the security personnel as they arrived at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
In a video posted by Buckley on social media, the security team was seen halting Buckley and his team at the entrance, but allowed them to enter after confirming that he was the headlining fighter for the event.
Check out the video below (Courtesy: @ChampRDS on X):
The incident attracted mixed reactions from fight fans. While a few poked fun at Buckley, others criticized the UFC management for the slip-up.
UFC fighter accused of faking KO
The preliminary card headlining bout between Paul Craig and Rodolfo Bellato was crucial for both fighters. While Craig was returning to the light heavyweight division after a disappointing 1-3 run at middleweight, Bellato was coming off a draw against Jimmy Crute and two bout cancellations.
The fight ended in the closing seconds of Round 1 as an accidental illegal upkick from a downed Craig appeared to have knocked Bellato out. However, the replay showed Bellato complaining to the referee as he was passing out. This cast a shadow of doubt on the legitimacy of the damage inflicted by the upkick.
Craig's upkick was ruled accidental, and the fight was ruled a no-contest. However, many in the MMA community accused Bellato of faking the knockout.
Check out the sequence below:
That said, a few also opined that Bellato's body might have given a delayed reaction, similar to Edson Barboza's knockout win over Shane Burgos in 2021.
