Former UFC welterweight (77.1 kg) champion "Nigerian Nightmare" Kamaru Usman (38, U.S./Nigeria) is returning to the octagon after two years.

Ranked 5th in the UFC welterweight division, Usman will clash with 7th ranked "New Mensah" Wakins Buckley (31, U.S.) in the main event of "UFC Fight Night: Usman vs. Buckley" at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, on the 8th (Korean time).

He wants to end his three-fight losing streak and return to the top. Usman (20 wins, 4 losses) lost his title in 2022 after being knocked out by a high kick from Leon Edwards. After suffering two more defeats, he took time to rehabilitate his injured knee. Usman noted, "It’s essential to take ample time to heal from injuries, and I want to be a champion. If not, there’s no point in continuing my career," expressing his determination to return.

Buckley (21 wins, 6 losses), who is facing the former champion, is an emerging powerhouse who has won six consecutive fights since transitioning to welterweight. He has established himself as a rising star in the welterweight division after defeating Usman's former rival Colby Covington. He said, "If I win this time, I will move up to the position of the next title challenger," adding, "In the fight industry, you can never predict what will happen, so I will showcase my best performance to earn a title shot."

Jack Della Maddalena (28, Australia), who defeated Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 in May, is likely the first title defense opponent for the welterweight champion Islam Makhachev (33, Russia), who decided to vacate the championship belt to challenge in the welterweight division. Ranked 3rd Shavkat Rakhmonov and 6th Ian Machado Gary are also eyeing opportunities, so both fighters need to demonstrate solid performances to gain title shots.

A matchup between a wrestler and a striker is expected. Usman is a wrestler who has been a champion in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II folkstyle wrestling and was selected as a representative for freestyle wrestling at the World University Championships. In contrast, Buckley, with 21 wins, boasts strong power, with 15 of those being knockouts. His famous kick was a taekwondo-style spinning back kick showcased in the fight against Impa Kasanganay.

Usman's age is a variable. Although Usman is a legendary fighter with a record of 15 consecutive wins, the second most in UFC history, he is now 38 and has clearly passed his prime. Moreover, with a two-year hiatus, there is a possibility that his fighting instincts may have dulled. Therefore, local bookmakers predict Buckley has about a 70% chance of winning.

Buckley expects Usman to show up as he did in his prime. He stated, "I think Usman will show a performance that is no different from before, and he remains a threat, posing many challenges for welterweight fighters." Usman confidently replied, "Buckley will come out aggressively with a lot of self-assurance, and I will control the fight based on my experience."

In the co-main event, former UFC strawweight (52.2 kg) champion and current 7th ranked flyweight Rose Namajunas (32, U.S.) will face 11th ranked Miranda Maverick (27, U.S.). Namajunas (13 wins, 7 losses) is a taekwondo fighter who trained at the Joos Taekwondo School in the U.S. She overcame the trauma of a troubled childhood while attending taekwondo classes and became the UFC champion in 2018. In 2023, she moved up to flyweight, targeting championships in two weight classes.

The main card of "UFC Fight Night: Usman vs. Buckley" will be broadcast starting at 11 a.m. on June 15 (Sunday) through tvN SPORTS and TVING.

[Photo] Provided by UFC.

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