Coming into UFC Atlanta, Joaquin Buckley was a giant -265 favourite to beat Kamaru Usman. The larger, youthful man was on a six struggle successful streak, whereas Usman was coming off a protracted layoff and 0-3 skid. However “The Nigerian Nightmare” got here out firing on all cylinders, whereas Buckley seemed as misplaced as his Uber driver to the sector. Usman would take the struggle 49-46 on our scorecards and two of the judges’ scorecards.
Now Buckley is opening up on the loss in a brand new ‘Buck What You Heard’ video on his YouTube channel, and “New Mansa” was extraordinarily humble in defeat.
“I really feel so humiliated due to that loss,” Buckley stated. “However on the similar time, I gotta bow my head. Usman confirmed me who he was, in truth, bro. And I actually simply gotta perceive that as many excuses that I could make about this struggle and why it didn’t go my means as a result of X, Y, Y, it don’t matter. That night time, it actually confirmed it’s ranges to this recreation. And in all respect, I gotta simply take a look at it and say to myself which means there’s one other stage that we will get hold of.”
“I misplaced a test, bro. That s—t harm. Like, that’s the factor that sucks about shedding. You don’t simply lose on the document, bro. You lose out financially. Like, n—a, after I say we will’t afford to lose? Actually, bro, we can’t afford to lose. However guess what? I’m a take this priceless lesson that breaks my coronary heart each time I watch the struggle and make it possible for s—t by no means occurs once more.”
“I didn’t get bodily overwhelmed,” he continued. “I had all of the instruments essential to beat Usman that night time. Y’all speaking about I can’t wrestle. What’s y’all speaking about? Y’all seen my final struggle with Colby [Covington], and Colby is arguably a greater wrestler than Usman. Don’t overlook, Usman wrestled D2. Kobe was D1. So don’t disrespect me by saying I can’t wrestle since you noticed in that fifth spherical, my ass can wrestle. I simply didn’t present up. I didn’t execute. That’s on me, and I allowed myself to be in that second for too lengthy.”
“I used to be mesmerized, man. I’m seeing Francis Ngannou throughout the cage from Kamaru Usman. And I’m identical to, I get to indicate these guys how nice I’m. I get to indicate these guys. I’m that one. As a substitute of simply realizing the person that’s in entrance of me proper now, he making an attempt to carry me down, and I paid for it.”
Israel Adesanya could not cease hating on Joaquin Buckley whereas watching his struggle with Kamaru Usman final night time
“I hate this n**** bro. One thing about him simply f***ing annoys me.”
@stylebender pic.twitter.com/9RZSpKDFo6
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 15, 2025
Buckley additionally went in-depth on Israel Adesanya’s not-so-nice feedback about him. “The Final Stylebender” launched a UFC Atlanta response video and ripped into Buckley, which took the welterweight unexpectedly.
“He is aware of what it’s prefer to lose, so to say that you just you hate a motherf—er and also you glad that they misplaced, didn’t obtain their desires?” Buckley stated. “It’s wild to me. Like, bro, why the f— you mad at me? What the f— I do to you? As a result of I discover it humorous the way you hating on me. It’s essential be hating the motherf—er that took your belt, and y’all know what I’m speaking about. That n—a is he.”
“You ain’t no actual fighter,” Buckley concluded. “You wanna be a bit fairly boy. You recognize what I’m saying? I provides you with a pattern, however I don’t like boy p—y. You will get this work any given time, bro. I can provide it to you. However I simply hate fighters such as you, man, since you wanna downplay on anyone that’s making an attempt to work in direction of one thing.”
