The UFC Atlanta Kamaru Usman Vs Joaquin Buckley that took place on June 14, 2025, delivered a high-stakes result. For Usman, this bout represented a critical crossroads; after three consecutive losses, another defeat could have ended his run as a top-tier contender.

Buckley, meanwhile, arrived with momentum, boasting a six-fight win streak and a reputation for highlight-reel knockouts. The stage was set for a pivotal showdown with major implications for the division.

UFC Atlanta Kamaru Usman Vs Joaquin Buckley Fight Recap

From the outset, Kamaru Usman returned to his wrestling roots, aiming to neutralize Buckley’s explosive striking. Usman wasted little time, shooting for a takedown within the first 30 seconds and establishing control on the mat.

Throughout the five-round contest, Usman’s strategy was clear: use his superior grappling and ground control to dictate the pace and location of the fight. He repeatedly took Buckley down, maintained dominant positions, and peppered his opponent with short strikes and elbows.

Buckley, known for his knockout power, had his moments, especially in the third and fourth rounds, where he managed to land some significant strikes and briefly stifle Usman’s takedown attempts. However, each time Buckley tried to build momentum, Usman’s wrestling would bring the fight back to the canvas, where Buckley struggled to escape or mount meaningful offense.

Statistically, Usman dominated across key categories. He landed 127 of 217 total strikes (58.5% accuracy), compared to Buckley’s 28 of 94 (29.8%). In significant strikes, Usman also led, connecting on 31 of 73, while Buckley managed 24 of 90. The grappling numbers were equally lopsided: Usman completed four of seven takedown attempts, while Buckley was unable to secure any.

UFC Atlanta Kamaru Usman Vs Joaquin Buckley Results

After 25 minutes of action, the judges rendered a unanimous decision in favor of Kamaru Usman, with scorecards reading 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47. This victory snapped Usman’s three-fight losing streak and improved his professional record to 21-4, while Buckley fell to 21-7.

Usman’s performance was a showcase of experience, composure, and tactical discipline. He managed distance, used his cardio to maintain pressure, and effectively shut down Buckley’s offense throughout the fight. Notably, there were no knockdowns or submission attempts from either fighter, underscoring Usman’s ability to control the action without taking unnecessary risks.

Also Read: Who Could Win Queens Championships 2025 Women’s Singles? Top Contenders

Fight fans worldwide are ready for the biggest MMA fight of the year so far – UFC 316, topped by the thrilling Bantamweight Title rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley. The Pay-Per-View battle is set to go down on June 7, 2025, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

With 13 action-packed fights in a stacked card, two of which are championship fights, UFC 316 is set to be an event to remember. What you need to know is summarized below, including the entire fight card, event information, and how to live stream the action.

 Main Event: Dvalishvili vs O’Malley – Bantamweight Title Clash

In the main event of UFC 316, your Bantamweight Championship is on the line in a high-stakes rematch between champion Merab Dvalishvili and challenger Sean O’Malley. In their last match-up at UFC 306, Dvalishvili was able to apply relentless pressure and wrestling on O’Malley.

This time around, O’Malley hopes to exact revenge with an updated game plan, while Dvalishvili aims to prove that his initial win was not a fluke.

Co-Main Event: Peña vs Harrison Women’s Bantamweight Title Bout

The co-main event is where the excitement begins with Julianna Peña defending her Women’s Bantamweight Championship against up-and-coming star and former Olympic judoka Kayla Harrison. With her power and grappling skills, Harrison is a credible threat to the experienced champion Peña.

 UFC 316 Date, Time & Venue

Date: Saturday, June 7, 2025

Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey

Start Time: Early Prelims start at 6 PM ET (approximately)

UFC 316 Streaming and Broadcast Information

Catch all the action of UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs O’Malley live on the following platforms:

Early Prelims: Live on ESPN+, Disney+, and UFC Fight Pass

Prelims: Stream on ESPN, ESPN+, and Disney+

Main Card: Exclusive live on ESPN+ Pay-Per-View (PPV)

USA: Stream live on ESPN+ PPV

UFC 316 Full Fight Card

Main Card

Bantamweight Title Fight: Merab Dvalishvili (c) vs Sean O’Malley

Women’s Bantamweight Title Fight: Julianna Peña (c) vs Kayla Harrison

Middleweight Fight: Kelvin Gastelum vs Joe Pyfer

Bantamweight Fight: Mario Bautista vs Patchy Mix

Welterweight Fight: Vicente Luque vs Kevin Holland

Preliminary Card

Flyweight Fight: Bruno Gustavo da Silva vs Joshua Van

Light Heavyweight Fight: Azamat Murzakanov vs Brendson Ribeiro

Heavyweight Fight: Serghei Spivac vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Welterweight Fight: Khaos Williams vs Andreas Gustafsson

Early Prelims

Women’s Flyweight Fight: Ariane da Silva vs Wang Cong

Featherweight Bout: Yoo Joo-sang vs Jeka Saragih

Lightweight Bout: Yanal Ashmouz vs Quillan Salkilld

Lightweight Bout: Mark Choinski vs MarQuel Mederos

ALSO READ: Malaysia Masters 2025: Key Details, Top Seeds, And More

Reinier de Ridder, a former two-division champion in ONE Championship, is set to make his much-anticipated UFC debut against veteran Gerald Meerschaert. This fight will take place at the UFC Vegas 100 event on Saturday, November 9, at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Dutch mixed martial arts star recently parted ways with ONE Championship and has now signed a contract with the UFC. He will compete on the undercard of this significant Vegas event. De Ridder, who held the ONE Light Heavyweight and Middleweight titles, lost both belts to Anatoly Malykhin. At 34 years old, he last fought at UAE Warriors 51 in July, where he easily defeated Magomedmurad Khasaev.

Reinier De Ridder’s MMA Career and Record

Reinier De Ridder began his professional mixed martial arts journey in 2013. He won his first nine fights across various promotions before joining ONE Championship in 2019, quickly making his mark in the title race at the Singapore-based organization.

In 2020, De Ridder won the ONE middleweight title just four fights into his tenure with the promotion. He then moved up a weight class to capture the light heavyweight championship, becoming the third two-division champion in ONE Championship history. Throughout his 17-fight MMA career, known as “The Dutch Knight,” De Ridder has suffered only two losses, both against Malykhin. Out of his 15 victories, 13 have come by way of finish, including 4 knockouts and 11 submission wins.

Reinier De Ridder’s UFC Debut Opponent

For his debut in the UFC, De Ridder will face established submission specialist Gerald Meerschaert in a middleweight bout. Known as “GM3,” Meerschaert recently secured a come-from-behind submission victory over Edmen Shahbazyan, earning a Performance of the Night bonus for his effort last month.

Meerschaert has finished 35 of his 37 career victories, with 29 of those wins coming through submission. He currently ranks third all-time in UFC history for the most submission wins, boasting 11. He is now ready to welcome De Ridder, The Dutch Knight, to the UFC.

UFC Vegas 100 Fight Card (As It Stands)

• Middleweight Bout: Reinier de Ridder vs. Gerald Meerschaert
• Women’s Strawweight Bout: Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Denis Gomes
• Middleweight Bout: Mansur Abdul Malik vs. Duško Todorović
• Middleweight Bout: Tresean Gore vs. Antonio Tricoli
• Bantamweight Bout: Cody Garbrandt vs. Miles Johns
• Women’s Strawweight Bout: Luana Pinheiro vs. Gillian Robertson

Also Read: Differences Between Red, Orange, and Yellow Tennis Balls: How They Impact Gameplay

In the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), competitors combine hitting, wrestling, and submission grappling to create a violent and athletic tapestry. It is like a vicious ballet between opposing disciplines. It is nearly impossible to rank the best boxers of all time across all weight classes. Still some names come up most frequently in discourse. Here we examine the lives of five legendary MMA fighters who have solidified their status in the annals of the sport.

Khabib Nurmagomedov:

Khabib Nurmagomedov retired undefeated with a record of 29-0. Russia, which comes from Dagestan, brought a relentless wrestling style to the lightweight division 155 lbs. He would ragdoll opponents smothering them with suffocating pressure and threatening takedowns. His striking was sharp but it was his grappling that truly separated him. 

Also Read: Understanding the Unified Rules of MMA

Georges St-Pierre: 

Georges St-Pierre, known by the name GSP, is a former Canadian actor and former MMA fighter. He was born on May 19, 1981. He has been a champion in two divisions in UFC that is welterweight and middleweight. He retired from the UFC in 2013. GSP tirelessly honed his wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and striking, transforming into a well-rounded force. His reign as UFC Welterweight Champion (170 lbs) was historic. 

Jon Jones: 

Jon Jones was born on July 19, 1987 in America. He was the heavyweight champion in the UFC from 2011 to 2015 and from 2018 to 2020. He was also the UFC lightweight champion. He is known as the best MMA fighter in the world. His elbows rain down from incredible angles, his takedowns are explosive, and his submissions are slick.

Anderson Silva: 

Anderson da Silva was born on April 14, 1975 in Brazil. He holds the record for holding the title for the longest time in UFC history. He held the UFC middleweight championship for 2457 days. He said goodbye to boxing in November 2020. Silva’s highlight reel is a treasure trove of knockouts, with his front-kick of Chris Leben a prime example. However, age and injuries eventually caught up to Silva, and his later career record is ruined. 

Also Read: Blood, Sweat, and Glory: The Reality of UFC Competition

Demetrious Johnson: 

Demetrious Johnson Born on August 13, 1986, Khrisna Johnson is a professional mixed martial artist from the United States. He is the current ONE Flyweight Champion (135 lb) in the ONE Championship, where he competes. He was the first-ever and previous 125-pound UFC Flyweight Champion. Known for his deft punching and evasive movement, Johnson’s submission victory over Kyoji Horiguchi at 4:59 of the fifth round shares the distinction for the latest finish in UFC history. With seven finishes, Johnson also owns the record for the most in UFC flyweight history.

The Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) provide a clear set of rules for professional MMA competition. These rules remain the same across different athletic commissions and regulatory bodies. The Unified Rules were proposed and agreed upon by various athletic commissions in the 2000s. On July 30, 2009, the Association of Boxing Commissions unanimously adopted these rules.

The Unified Rules of MMA govern:

– How judges score fights
– What actions are considered fouls
– What substances are prohibited
– The number of rounds per fight and round duration
– The different weight classes
– Medical requirements for fighters
– What fighters can wear and use for equipment

UFC follows the Unified Rules of MMA. The UFC also has the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has stricter rules about prohibited substances than the Unified Rules require. UFC has supported the Unified Rules since November 2000. The rules help keep fighters safe and ensure fair competition by providing consistent rules for the sport.

The following actions are considered fouls under the Unified Rules:

– Butting with the head
– Gouging the eyes
– Biting or spitting at an opponent
– Fish hooking (inserting fingers in mouth or nose)
– Pulling hair
– Spiking an opponent headfirst to the canvas
– Striking the spine or back of the head
– Throat strikes or grabbing the trachea
– Outstretching fingers towards eyes
– Downward elbow strikes
– Groin attacks
– Kneeing or kicking a downed opponent’s head
– Stomping a downed opponent
– Holding opponent’s gloves or shorts
– Holding the cage or ropes
– Manipulating small joints
– Throwing opponent out of the ring
– Inserting fingers into any orifice or cut
– Clawing, pinching or twisting flesh
– Being timid or faking injury
– Using abusive language
– Disobeying the referee
– Unsportsmanlike conduct that injures opponent
– Attacking after the bell
– Attacking during a break
– Attacking when referee has intervened
– Corner interference

Fouls can result in point deductions, disqualifications, or other penalties from the referee. Only referees can officially call fouls during a fight.

Yes, UFC episodes are genuine. In the highly controlled arena of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), professional fighters engage in mixed martial arts (MMA) tournaments. Even though the fights’ outcomes are not planned for, the UFC controls and plans the events, ensuring safe practices and fair competition.

About UFC’s evolution

The UFC faced criticism in the beginning for what was perceived as its brutality because it was an unregulated tournament-style competition. Still, the organization underwent significant changes over time. More weight classes were introduced, rules were tightened, and the UFC evolved into a more reputable and controlled sports organization.

Professional Fighter

Professional athletes compete against actors or stunt performers in the UFC. They dedicate themselves to mastering various martial arts styles.

Strict Regulations

Athletic commissions oversee the fights and a set of rules controls them to ensure safety and fair competition.

Unpredictable Outcomes

The fights are not governed by any specific regulations. The outcome will depend on the fighters’ strategies and skill levels on that particular day. There is a chance for decisions, submissions, and knockouts.

Also Read: WWE Champion Seth Rollins Makes a Shocking Statement on UFC

UFC Rules

Rounds and Length

Fights typically consist of three rounds with a brief break; championship contests last five rounds, while non-championship fights last five minutes each.

Weight Classes

There are eight weight divisions for men and four for women, so fighters face opponents of the same size.

Legal Techniques

Many striking (knees, elbows, punches, and kicks) and wrestling techniques are allowed, with a few related to safety restrictions.

Fouls

A few of the offences that can cost you points or possibly result in disqualification are biting, ripping off, bottom attacks, and striking the spine.

Also Read: Khamzat Chimaev Withdraws from UFC 300 Main Event Sweepstakes Due to Ramadan Conflict

Differences between UFC and MMA

MMA (Mixed Martial Arts)

This is the real game. It allows fighters to use a wide range of techniques from several martial arts systems, such as boxing, wrestling, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and boxing. Consider mixed martial arts (MMA) as an extensive smorgasbord of fighting techniques where participants can combine styles to create a unique strategic plan.

UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)

This specific organization is in favour of mixed martial arts competitions. It is similar to the NFL of American football or the Premier League of soccer, but for mixed martial arts. The UFC is the biggest mixed martial arts organization, with some of the best athletes in the world competing for championship belts.

Global Impact and Popularity

One of the main reasons for the UFC’s widespread appeal is its dedication to exhibiting the top mixed martial arts competitors around the globe. The company has produced several legendary athletes and events that have captured the attention of viewers all over the world. The UFC’s ascent to fame has been crucial in bringing mixed martial arts (MMA) into the public eye and establishing its standing as an accepted and respectable sport.

Conclusion

The UFC organizes Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fights, which are real, tightly regulated matches.  Fans all over the world are still impressed with the fighters’ athleticism and intensity, even if the sport has evolved from its violent beginnings to one that is safer and better organized. The popularity and respectability of mixed martial arts (MMA) have been greatly helped by the UFC.