Kamaru Usman was visibly emotional, shedding tears after securing a crucial victory upon returning to the octagon.
The former welterweight champion and one-time pound-for-pound king made his return after 20 months, facing Joaquin Buckley in the main event at UFC Atlanta.
His status at the top of the sport had been questioned after suffering three consecutive losses to Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev.
However, the 38-year-old fighter delivered a dominant performance over five rounds, reminiscent of his earlier career, securing a unanimous decision win with scores of 49–46, 49–46, and 48–47.
During his emotional post-fight interview, Usman became tearful, stating: “It’s been a while. I needed to get that monkey off my back. I know I’m still able to do this at the highest level.
Sometimes when you’re going up against a young, hungry guy like that, very talented, very aggressive, you’ve got to pull out the skills and use your experience. And that’s what I did tonight.”
Usman asserted that this win against the rising Buckley demonstrates he remains among the sport`s elite.
He addressed critics who joke about his physical condition, particularly his knees: “I know it’s a running joke, everybody wants to get on the internet and talk s***, ‘Oh, his knees, his knees.’
Well, shut the f*** up, I can still do what I do.
I could do that to anybody [in the welterweight division], any one of them.
But like I said, I needed to get that monkey off my back.
Early on in my career as I was rolling, once I had that monkey off my back and I knew I was rolling, I was able to open up.
And you guys saw those spectacular knockouts. I still got them in there.”
Following this decisive return to victory, Usman declared his ambition to reclaim the welterweight championship.
He concluded emphatically: “I have been, and always will be, the f**king boogeyman.”
Elton Marrow