Kamaru Usman to Face Joaquin Buckley in UFC Atlanta Headliner on June 14

#UFCAtlanta has its headliners 🚨@Usman84kg vs @NewMansa94@RoseNamajunas vs @FearTheMaverick

Tickets on sale May 2 | Info: https://t.co/8HQfIg4b0R pic.twitter.com/lav45WCWaz

— UFC (@ufc) April 25, 2025

The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s return to Hotlanta will have a solid one-two punch in the marquee.

The promotion released information about its upcoming trip to Atlanta on Friday, announcing the headliner the June 14 card. In the main attraction will be Kamaru Usman (20-4) against Joaquin Buckley (21-6) in a high-stakes welterweight showdown. It will be Usman’s return to 170 pounds after a one-off outing at middleweight, and overall, his first appearance since October 2023—he will be searching for his first victory since his rematch with Colby Covington in 2021.

Former beltholder Usman is looking to put a three-fight skid in the rear-view, with two of those three coming to Leon Edwards with the third defeat against Khamzat Chimaev on short notice. Before the knockout loss to Edwards, “The Nigerian Nightmare” had racked up 15 straight victories in the Octagon—one shy of Anderson Silva’s overall record. During his run at the top, Usman captured the throne from Tyron Woodley, and he defended it five times against Covington (twice), Jorge Masvidal (twice) and Gilbert Burns.

This will be the biggest fight in the career of former middleweight Buckley. With his campaign at 185 pounds less-than-spectacular, Buckley moved down to welterweight after a loss to Chris Curtis and has not looked back. Winner of six straight including four knockouts, Buckley wiped out names like Vicente Luque and Stephen Thompson before his most recent showing, a doctor stoppage TKO of Covington.

UFC Atlanta, also known as UFC on ESPN 69, goes down at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta on June 14. With the main event now set, it joins a card with a co-headliner of Rosa Namajunas vs. Miranda Maverick at flyweight. Other marquee fights on the billing include a middleweight tilt pitting Edmen Shahbazyan against Andre Petroski and a light heavyweight banger when Alonzo Menifield meets Oumar Sy.