April 25 was a big day for announcements of fighting, even if the international Vechtweek conversations keep dominating.
Together with the latest dance of Dustin Poirier on UFC 318 in New Orleans, the return of a former UFC champion was made officially before June 14 in Atlanta.
Kamaru Usman is currently on a three-fight loss streak, but before this decrease in the shape he ruled as the dominant force on 170 pounds and he was directly at the top of the pound-for-pound list.
After more than 18 months, Usman will be confronted with Joaquin Buckley in a welterweight main event with great commitment to the rest of the division.
If 'the Nigerian nightmare' is able to stop the winning series of his opponent to earn his first victory since UFC 268, it will certainly shake things around the title photo.
Kamaru Usman gives his first thoughts about returning to Joaquin Buckley in Atlanta
Despite its inactivity and current form, Kamaru Usman still has a high position in the ranking of Welterweight as the #4-continent.
Joaquin Buckley, on the other hand, did not come to the #6 spot based on the pedigree of what he has achieved in the past with 'New Mansa' last year rise the 170 pound Ladder after he had achieved four consecutive victories in 2025.
The newest victories of both men even came across the same opponent, but the difference is that Buckley defeated Colby Covington last December, while Usman got his hand in their rematch for the Welterweight belt completely back in November 2021.
Nevertheless, a victory here places 'the Nigerian nightmare' in the title photo and he still has to face many of the top names that are around him in the ranking.
In a fast bonus episode of his poundcast from Pound 4 pound next to Henry Cejudo, Usman gave his opinion about his return now that he was officially made when he responded to a part of the criticism with which he recently confronted because he was not active.
“You know how they are Henry, they said I would do this, do that, do this, but guess what Henry? I am already the word tired. I had to take a bit of a sabbatical, as I said, but now I am back from that sabbatical. That's right Henry, you heard your boy back.”
Usman started talking specifically about Buckley and their matchup and expressed excitement to go outside and leave everything in the Octagon on 14 June.
“It is a great fight. He is very aggressive, he is strong, he is athletic and I like that. Every now and then, that warrior spirit, you have to practice it, that is where we come from Henry. I am one of those guys where I have so much time and effort, you have to feel the fight a bit.
“You want to come in and feel that you have argued and I have been in a few where I did not touch and I am gone there, still adrenaline, the feeling that I have to burn some energy, but hopefully if he does his homework, it will be an incredible fight.”
When did Kamaru Usman last participated in the Octagon?
Although his last victory came over UFC 268, Kamaru Usman has since participated three times before he remained inactive for 18 months.
His welterweight title line was terminated on spectacular fashion by Leon Edwards on UFC 278 before 'Rocky' closed their trilogy by beating him for the second time at UFC 268 in London.
After fighting in March, Usman later made a surprise back in 2023 in 2023 when he came in the short term to replace Paulo Costa and be confronted with Khamzat Chimaev on UFC 294.
Given that the fight was in the short term and it was a weight class, the former Welterweight champion was successful with some who believed he did enough to win what was ultimately a majority decision in favor of Chimaev.