Kamaru Usman and Joaquin Buckley faced off this week, anticipating their welterweight clash at UFC Fight Night at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Buckley, 31 years old, asked a direct question to the former champion, 38 years old.
How does it feel to face the new generation?
Joaquin BuckleyBuckley, with the responsibility of fighting, addressed the most relevant topic of the event directly with Usman. Nearing 40 years old and more than three years since his last victory, the question is clear: What does Usman have left? Can he still be a factor in the 170-pound category? Or will he become an accessible rival for Buckley, who arrives with a streak of six consecutive victories and requested this fight at the end of last year? The UFC publication shows the atmosphere before the fight.Usman, who hasn’t fought since October 2023, chose not to answer Buckley’s question. Later, he commented: “I’m fucking tired. Why do I need to talk? On Saturday, we’ll be locked in the Octagon, and that’s when I’ll talk.” Three years ago, Usman was the UFC champion and was considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. He suffered a knockout in the last minute of a title fight against Leon Edwards on August 20, 2022, and has since struggled to regain his form. He lost to Edwards in an immediate rematch in March 2023 and then was unsuccessful in a last-minute fight against Khamzat Chimaev in October. Since then, he has stayed on the sidelines, focusing on aspects unrelated to fighting and on “small persistent injuries” while he was an active champion. He also waited for the right opportunity. He was offered more last-minute fights, which he considered, as he likes to “save the day” for the UFC, but ultimately chose to wait for a situation that, according to him, would put him in the best position to win.If Usman defeats Buckley, his aspirations remain those of a fighter in his prime. He wants to face the winner of an expected title fight between welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena and former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. And if he got the fight and regained the belt, he would do something he was never close to achieving during his first reign: move up a weight class to challenge for a second belt.We want to finish this the right way. Instead of just going in a week early.
Kamaru UsmanWinning that, probably vacate and go face middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis or Khamzat Chimaev. It’s the exact mentality expected of a returning former champion, who remained silent about his future in fighting during his time off. There will likely be skepticism about how realistic Usman’s plan is, but if he looks like the champion he once was on Saturday, new questions will arise. For now, there’s only one: How does it feel to face the new generation?I’m going to lay out the plan right here. Beat Buckley this weekend, then wait for the winner of Islam and [Della Maddalena]. Who wouldn’t buy a ticket to see the former pound-for-pound champion [Usman] against the current pound-for-pound [Makhachev]? I think that’s something Islam and I would remember forever.
Kamaru Usman
