The main event of UFC Fight Night: Usman vs. Buckley featured a welterweight clash between Kamal Usman, ranked fifth, and Joaquin Buckley, ranked seventh. The fight took place Saturday at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, kicking off the main card at 10 pm. Usman was returning after a loss to Kamzat Chimayev in his middleweight debut in October 2023, while Buckley entered off a TKO win over Colby Covington at UFC on ESPN, December 14, 2024. Buckley was favored at -245 odds, with Usman the underdog at +200. The fight going the distance had +110 odds. In the co-main event, seventh-ranked Rose Namajunas was favored over 11th-ranked Miranda Maverick in a women’s flyweight match.
MMA analyst Daniel Vislani, known for his sharp betting insights and a 5-0 record at UFC 283, studied this matchup closely and shared top betting picks and strategies. Usman, the former UFC welterweight champion with five title defenses, was aiming to end a three-fight losing streak after losing to Leon Edwards in August 2022. The 38-year-old Nigerian-born fighter has a 20-4 career record, featuring nine knockouts, one submission, and ten decision wins. Buckley, 31, has been in the UFC since 2020 and is on a six-fight winning streak. Known for his five “Performance of the Night” awards and the 2020 “Newcomer of the Year” title, Buckley holds a 21-6 record with 15 knockouts.
Buckley also made a mark in Legacy Fighting Alliance and Bellator MMA, earning Knockout of the Year in October 2020. His signature spinning back kick knockout came at UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen. Vislani also gave a surprise pick for another fight on the card, endorsing Phil Rowe at +145 odds, citing Rowe’s strength advantage. Overall, Vislani’s betting approach emphasizes fighters who aggressively land jabs early to secure wins.
The full main card odds include Usman (+200) vs. Buckley (-245), Namajunas (-239) vs. Maverick (+195), Edmen Shabajan (-148) vs. Andre Petrosky (+124), Cody Garbrandt (+210) vs. Raoni Barcelos (-258), Mansur Abdul-Malik (-1050) vs. Cody Bundage (+675), and Alonzo Menifield (+500) vs. Oumar Sy (-700).
Fan Take: This fight night is critical as it showcases a returning former champ in Usman against an ascending Buckley, potentially signaling a shift in the welterweight hierarchy. For fight fans, the stakes and betting insight heighten excitement and anticipation, impacting how we view the evolving landscape of UFC talent and competition.
