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          Kamaru Usman-Joaquin Buckley UFC main event set for June 14

          • Brett OkamotoApr 25, 2025, 06:33 PM ET
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              Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
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          Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman will take on surging contender Joaquin Buckley on June 14 in Atlanta, UFC CEO Dana White announced Friday.

          Usman (20-4) has not fought since a majority decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev in October 2023. The former 170-pound king took that fight on short notice, at a higher weight class. He will be back in his natural weight division for this five-round bout, which will headline UFC Fight Night in State Farm Arena.

          Buckley (21-6) is looking to put a stamp on his case for a welterweight title shot. The former middleweight is a perfect 6-0 since dropping to welterweight in 2023 and is coming off a TKO finish over former interim champion Colby Covington in December.

          Usman and Buckley are the UFC's No. 4- and No. 6-ranked welterweights, respectively.

          A flyweight matchup between former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas and Miranda Maverick will serve as the co-main event on the UFC Fight Night, per White.