Kamaru Usman, it’s been some time.
602. The variety of days for the reason that 38-year-old most lately fought.
819. The variety of days since Usman final fought at welterweight, the division he reigned over from 2019-2022.
1,029. The variety of days since Usman final held UFC gold.
1,316. The variety of days since Usman’s final win.
Now. Usman makes his return in the primary occasion of UFC Atlanta, the place he takes on Joaquin Buckley, one of many welterweight division’s hottest fighters. In Usman’s absence, Buckley has soared alongside a brand new crop of contenders, profitable six straight fights, knocking off the likes of Colby Covington, Stephen Thompson, and Vicente Luque, and rising to the No. 7 spot within the MMA Fighting Global Rankings.
A altering of the guard could possibly be so as, with Father Time seemingly having lots to say about Usman’s quest to climb again up the rankings. Few would query that Usman is likely one of the three finest welterweights ever. Whether or not that counts for something Saturday night time stays to be seen.
Within the co-main occasion, two-time strawweight champion Rose Namajunas seems to maintain her personal title hopes alive as she continues to grind away at 125 kilos. Like Usman, she has a streaking contender in entrance of her in Miranda Maverick, as soon as a blue-chip prospect and now a veteran on the cusp of cracking the flyweight high 10. She will additionally shake up the MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound rankings if she upsets Namajunas, at the moment No. 13 on our listing.
Additionally on the primary card, putting specialist Edmen Shahbazyan seems to KO Andre Petroski, former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt takes on Raoni Barcelos, and undefeated prospects Mansur Abdul-Malik and Oumar Sy face veteran checks.
What: UFC Atlanta
The place: State Farm Enviornment in Atlanta
When: Saturday, June 14. The seven-fight preliminary card begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+, adopted by a six-fight foremost card at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+.
Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley
Just a few years in the past, it might have been laughable to counsel Joaquin Buckley may defeat Kamaru Usman. However this sport strikes at gentle pace and it’s simple to favor the extra lively Buckley over a 38-year-old that has spent the previous couple of years podcasting greater than preventing.
Simply his previous two fights, although, Usman continues to be fairly good, proper? After a predictably gradual first spherical, Usman gave the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev a hell of a scrap, and he wasn’t out of kinds in his championship rematch with Leon Edwards both. There are remnants of prime Usman in there.
Are remnants sufficient to beat a white-hot contender truly in his prime? As enjoyable as a few of his middleweight appearances have been, Buckley was all the time meant to return to welterweight and the transfer has paid off in each potential approach. He’s quick, he hits exhausting, and he can wrestle when he must. Extra importantly, he can counter-wrestle.
Usman and Buckley could have loads of bodily, gnarly clashes in a battle that could be a battle of wills as a lot as talent. It’s a must to think about Usman’s focus can be on taking Buckley down, although he’ll have loads of well-earned confidence in his standup as effectively. I’d simply be involved for Usman there with Buckley seemingly beating him to the punch as a rule.
I’m leaning Buckley, primarily as a result of Usman’s day without work has me involved and I’m not satisfied he can neutralize sufficient of Buckley’s offense to throw him off his sport. Buckley wins a aggressive five-rounder.
Decide: Buckley
Rose Namajunas vs. Miranda Maverick
There’s an analogous story being informed within the co-main occasion. Rose Namajunas isn’t approaching 40 like Usman, however she’s been preventing at a excessive degree nearly for the reason that begin of her profession in 2013. Have been her losses to Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot simply unhealthy fashion matchups, a case of Namajunas simply being too small, or is there cause to consider “Thug Rose” simply isn’t the fighter she was?
Miranda Maverick will put all these theories to the check. She’ll have a energy benefit over Namajunas and nearly positively make use of a gentle eating regimen of takedowns. Namajunas has by no means been a push-over in terms of defending grappling although, so such a method may find yourself irritating Maverick greater than her opponent.
On the ft, Namajunas is much extra polished and that’s the place I count on this bout to play out. Maverick has made nice strides in all departments and at 27, I nonetheless assume she has an opportunity to be a future champion, however the model of Namajunas she fights Saturday continues to be a notch above her degree.
Namajunas by resolution.
Decide: Namajunas
Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Andre Petroski
What am I lacking right here?
Is that this not one more case of Edmen Shahbazyan profitable a battle after which being rewarded with a grinding grappler? And but he was a 2-to-1 favourite heading into battle week. I don’t get it.
Admittedly, I additionally picked towards Shahbazyan when was given a layup matchup towards Dylan Budka in February, however that’s as a result of I’d seen Budka deal with individuals earlier than and assumed he’d make the most of that technique. He didn’t and Shahbazyan appeared nice, placing Budka down in 94 seconds.
However all Andre Petroski does is take individuals down and make issues ugly, which is precisely the form of tactic that has troubled Shahbazyan so many instances previously. He’s going to shoot and seize and push Shahbazyan towards the fence and he received’t cease till Shahbazyan is on his again. Then the strain is on Shahbazyan but once more.
All that stated, Petroski is just not recognized for having an iron chin, so there’s a superb probability Shahbazyan simply catches him, provides one other knockout to his spotlight reel, and strings collectively consecutive wins for the primary time since 2019 (!). I’ve simply been burned too many instances by “The Golden Boy” to select him with any confidence.
Decide: Petroski
Cody Garbrandt vs. Raoni Barcelos
We will all agree we’re much more comfy seeing Cody Garbrandt on the senior circuit of the bantamweight division versus getting used as cannon fodder for up-and-coming fighters. I’m nonetheless not selecting him to beat Raoni Barcelos, although.
There’s actually a state of affairs the place Garbrandt is on the cash and he simply lights Barcelos up on the ft. If there’s one factor Garbrandt nonetheless has, it’s hand pace and KO energy. It’s all the things else that’s regarding.
Barcelos hasn’t scored a knockout in ages, however he can contact up Garbrandt’s chin and if he will get forward early it received’t go effectively for the previous champion. He may additionally take Garbrandt out on the bottom, identical to Deiveson Figueiredo did. There simply aren’t many paths to victory for Garbrandt outdoors of Barcelos dropping his thoughts and brawling, which might be extremely enjoyable, however unlikely.
I’ve Barcelos ending Garbrandt through strikes within the first or second spherical.
Decide: Barcelos
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Cody Brundage
Lure sport?
Mansur Abdul-Malik has been a heavy favourite in all of his UFC fights and you may perceive why. The dude seems improbable on the dimensions and to this point the in-cage outcomes have been promising. He’s extra drive than method in the intervening time, which works given his degree of competitors to this point.
That is the place it will get difficult, although. Cody Brundage has the profile of a developmental expertise, however he’s confirmed to be a sticky wicket for lots of fighters that thought they’d have a straightforward night time within the octagon with him. The expertise hole right here can’t be ignored. If Abdul-Malik has not made important strides in between fights, he’s at critical danger of dropping his undefeated file.
I’m not courageous sufficient to select Brundage, however I’d warn followers to maintain their expectations real looking in terms of Abdul-Malik. He’s 27, he’s heading into his ninth professional bout, and he’s solely been a professional since 2021. Let’s give him time.
Decide: Abdul-Malik
Alonzo Menifield vs. Oumar Sy
It is a large step up for Oumar Sy, but in addition a crossroads battle for Alonzo Menifield, a once-ranked gentle heavyweight now struggling to regain that kind. At 37, it solely will get more durable for Menifield.
Sy’s sport plan is easy. He’ll interact within the putting solely so long as he has to earlier than a gap for a takedown presents itself. Count on loads of grind-y sequences towards the cage as Sy and Menifield try to outmuscle one another.
Menifield wants just one shot to place Sy down, however it’s been awhile since we’ve seen “Atomic” constantly string collectively offense, particularly when his opponents are in his face. I assumed Menifield would roll over Julius Walker final time and that battle was disturbingly shut.
I don’t know what Sy’s upside is on this growing old division, however Menifield is one veteran he ought to get by.
Decide: Sy
Preliminaries
Rodolfo Bellato def. Paul Craig
Michael Chiesa def. Court McGee
Malcolm Wellmaker def. Kris Moutinho
Jose Ochoa def. Cody Durden
Ricky Simon def. Cameron Smotherman
Phil Rowe def. Ange Loosa
