Kamaru Usman snapped his three-fight skid in emphatic fashion at UFC on ESPN 69, dominating Joaquin Buckley in a five-round main event to reassert himself in the welterweight elite. Returning to 170 pounds for the first time since 2022, Usman leaned into his championship-caliber wrestling, repeatedly grounding Buckley and controlling the pace of the fight with suffocating top pressure. Buckley showed resilience, especially in the later rounds with improved takedown defense and explosive flurries, but Usman’s positional dominance and volume ground-and-pound left little doubt. The judges scored the bout 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47 for Usman, who now improves to 21–4 with his first win since November 2021.
Next up for Kamaru Usman should be a matchup with former champion and current #1 contender Belal Muhammad. Both fighters are coming off main event losses and remain top-tier grapplers with exceptional cardio and pace. Muhammad, who dropped the welterweight title to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315, previously dethroned Leon Edwards in 2024 and holds wins over Gilbert Burns, Vicente Luque, and Stephen Thompson. Known for his volume striking and relentless pressure, Muhammad poses a stylistic challenge to Usman that few others in the division can match.
The fight would be a pivotal clash between two of the most consistent and durable fighters in the division’s modern history. With Muhammad looking to rebound and reclaim the belt, and Usman seeking a final title run before retirement becomes a conversation, this high-stakes matchup makes sense for both men. It could serve as a title eliminator, especially with Shavkat Rakhmonov and Della Maddalena currently jockeying for long-term dominance at the top.
Last Five Fights – Kamaru Usman:
1. Win over Joaquin Buckley – Decision (unanimous), UFC on ESPN 69 (June 14, 2025)
2. Loss to Khamzat Chimaev – Decision (majority), UFC 294 (October 21, 2023)
3. Loss to Leon Edwards – Decision (majority), UFC 286 (March 18, 2023)
4. Loss to Leon Edwards – KO (head kick), UFC 278 (August 20, 2022)
5. Win over Colby Covington – Decision (unanimous), UFC 268 (November 6, 2021)
Last Five Fights – Belal Muhammad:
1. Loss to Jack Della Maddalena – Decision (unanimous), UFC 315 (May 10, 2025)
2. Win over Leon Edwards – Decision (unanimous), UFC 304 (July 27, 2024)
3. Win over Gilbert Burns – Decision (unanimous), UFC 288 (May 6, 2023)
4. Win over Sean Brady – TKO (punches), UFC 280 (October 22, 2022)
5. Win over Vicente Luque – Decision (unanimous), UFC on ESPN (April 16, 2022)
