![Kamaru Usman (left) lauded for his performance against Joaquin Buckley (right) [Image courtesy: Getty Images]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2025/06/aabfb-17499683164567-1920.jpg)
![Kamaru Usman (left) lauded for his performance against Joaquin Buckley (right) [Image courtesy: Getty Images]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Kamaru Usman had his hand raised for the first time since 2021 when he faced Joaquin Buckley in the main event of UFC Atlanta on June 14. Previously, the former welterweight champion had suffered two title losses to Leon Edwards before a short-notice bout against Khamzat Chimaev saw him suffer a third defeat.
He entered the octagon at UFC Atlanta as an underdog, but proved his status as one of the best welterweights of all time by dominating Buckley. Usman's win saw many MMA fighters and fans take to social media to applaud his performance.
A former opponent of Buckley's, Kevin Holland, shared his thoughts on the result by commenting on how Islam Makhachev would fare at 170 pounds. The former lightweight champion recently moved to welterweight in pursuit of a second UFC belt. 'Trailblazer' took to X and wrote:
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"Islam smokes 'em"
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He also reacted to Usman's dominant wrestling showcase by writing:
"Them darn wrestlers"
Henry Cejudo, who co-hosts the Pound 4 Pound podcast alongside 'The Nigerian Nightmare', took to X to declare that his friend should receive the next title shot at 170 pounds, writing:
"Masterclass from Kamaru. Reversing the age on everybody. He's next for the strap!"
Another former opponent of Buckley's, Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson, was on hand to applaud both fighters for their performances, writing:
"Usman's wrestling is so strong. Buckley had his moments in the 5th but the wrestling got it done! Congrats legend."
Former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, who lost the title to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 on May 10, sent 'The Nigerian Nightmare' the following message on X:
"Congrats, see you soon"
Former two-division UFC champion turned commentator, Daniel Cormier, wrote:
"One of the best Kamaru Usman performances we have seen in a long time!"
Joaquin Buckley entered his clash against Kamaru Usman on a six-fight winning streak, having dismantled Colby Covington in his previous bout at UFC on ESPN 63. The former champion stopping the surging contender in his tracks will make fans rethink Usman's status as a title contender, with 'The Nigerian Nightmare' turning back the clock at UFC Atlanta.
