Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley Round-by-Round updates: UFC Atlanta: Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley: Live round-by-round updates

Joaquin Buckley’s climb through the welterweight ranks gets its biggest test this weekend at UFC Atlanta. Buckley is set to face former UFC 170-pound champion Kamaru Usman in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night main event in a showdown that pits seasoned veteran against towering challenger.

Usman returns to his home division for the first time since 2022, looking to snap a three-fight skid that’s seemingly dulled his once-dominant aura. 'The Nigerian Nightmare' built one of the most impressive win streaks in UFC history and aims to recapture lost ground starting with a win this weekend. At 38, with his last win nearly two years behind him, the pressure is on to show he still has the tools to slow the sport’s younger wave.

Across from him stands Buckley, who has reinvented himself at 170 pounds. Since dropping down from middleweight, he has looked sharper, faster, and more composed. Undefeated in six straight, including a breakout 2024 that saw him dismantle names like Stephen Thompson and Colby Covington, Buckley now plans to add the biggest name to his resume.

UFC Atlanta Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and Disney+. The main card is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. on ESPN, ESPN+ and Disney+.

Round 1

About the author

Abhishek Ramadasan Nambiar is a journalist who covers MMA at Sportskeeda. As a long-time practitioner of various martial arts, seeing the fusion of different forms into a quest for the ultimate fighter felt both primal and profoundly technical. At Sportskeeda, Abhishek's primary goal is to offer a fresh and distinctive angle through his writing, aiming to provide readers with more than just the basics of MMA. Along with keeping them informed about the latest developments in the sport, he strives to offer valuable insights that enhance their understanding of MMA.

When not writing about MMA, Abhishek often spends time reviewing music or devouring Brian Evanson's and Blake Crouch's work. Sign up to receive news, regular updates, and exclusive coverage.

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Edited by Abhishek Nambiar