Welterweight action will headline UFC Atlanta in June, as former 170lb champion Kamaru Usman is set to make his return to the octagon.
Usman (20-4) will take on Joaquin Buckley (21-6) in the main event of the Fight Night card on June 14, 2025. UFC officials announced the booking on Friday.
Kamaru “The Nigerian Nightmare” Usman has not been seen in action since an October 2023 loss to Khamzat Chimaev, his third consecutive setback. The ex-welterweight champ, who was unbeaten from 2013 to 2021, lost his title to Leon Edwards in 2022, suffering a head kick KO in the fifth and final round at UFC 278. Dropping a decision in the rematch, Usman then fell to Chimaev via majority decision, and has not competed since.
Joaquin Buckley, along with the likes of Shavkat Rakhmonov, Jack Della Maddalena, Sean Brady, and Ian Machado Garry, has been one of the rising, next generation stars in the UFC’s welterweight division. “Newmansa” has won six straight fights, a streak that includes victories over Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson and most recently, Colby Covington.
Usman is ranked #4, and Buckley #6 in the promotion’s official welterweight rankings.
UFC Atlanta takes place June 14, 2025 at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia with the following match-ups reported for the event to date:
- Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley
- Tereza Bledá vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth
- Rose Namajunas vs. Miranda Maverick
- Alonzo Menifield vs. Oumar Sy
- Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Andre Petroski
- Cody Durden vs. Jose Ochoa
- Cody Brundage vs. Mansur Abdul-Malik
