Joaquin Buckley vs Kamaru Usman — Fight recap

Kamaru Usman defeated Joaquin Buckley via unanimous decision after five rounds on June 14, 2025, with referee Mike Beltran officiating. Usman controlled the fight through superior striking efficiency and wrestling, landing 41 of 99 significant strikes (41%) compared to Buckley's 44 of 148 (29%), and secured four takedowns while accumulating 12:57 of control time.

Buckley attempted no takedowns and generated zero control time, relying primarily on volume striking with 29 head strikes landed. The tactical disparity was evident: Usman's 30% takedown success rate and grappling dominance neutralized Buckley's output, forcing the challenger to eat significant strikes without establishing his own offensive rhythm.

All three judges awarded the bout to Usman, cementing his position in the welterweight title picture and suggesting Buckley may need to recalibrate his approach against elite-level competition.