Usman vs Buckley Prediction: UFC Atlanta Betting Breakdown and Best Bets for June 14

No UFC pay-per-view this weekend? No problem… the octagon arrives in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday, and although A-Town residents won’t have a numbered PPV card, the Fight Night schedule that UFC matchmakers have put together is absolutely stacked with entertaining MMA talent!

Speaking of talent, the evening’s main event involves serious welterweight implications as one of the greatest 170-pounders in UFC history, Kamaru Usman, returns to the cage to scrap it out with a seemingly unstoppable rising contender in Joaquin Buckley!

And… you already know what time it is! I’m back to dissect the main event from a betting perspective and share with you my best UFC fight night odds and predictions for Usman vs. Buckley!

It’s time!!!

FACE TO FACE IN ATL 😮‍💨@USMAN84kg vs @Newmansa94@RoseNamajunas vs @FearTheMAVERICK

[ #UFCAtlanta | SATURDAY | 10pmET ] pic.twitter.com/p7IC5IxsIV

— UFC (@ufc) June 10, 2025

Usman vs Buckley: The Tale of The Tape

Usman vs Buckley Skillset Breakdown

Does Usman Still Have It?

Book this fight four years ago, and we’d be looking at a completely flipped moneyline price for our UFC best bets alongside the thought that Joaquin Buckley wouldn’t stand a chance against Kamaru Usman. Unfortunately for the latter, Father Time, which includes blown-out knees and more cage rust than he’s ever dealt with, has sent him from a 15-fight win streak and five welterweight title defenses into a three-fight losing skid, which is notably the first losing streak of his professional career.

What would’ve been his path to victory? That’s easy… wrestling! Usman dominated the welterweight division with his unstoppable takedowns and top control. Still, the confidence we once had in the former champion’s skills started to diminish a few years back, and with a nearly two-year absence from the octagon, what reasons do we have to believe that anything has changed?

Joaquin Buckley couldn’t believe he was facing off with Kamaru Usman 😂 #UFCAtlanta

(via @ufc) pic.twitter.com/ZPtdSqrfbn

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 10, 2025

The Explosiveness of Buckley

Joaquin Buckley saw a turning point in his career back in 2022 and has since won six consecutive fights! The evolution in his game has been real, and he’s become something of a legend killer in UFC news, having finished Vincente Luque, ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, and Colby Covington by KO/TKO.

What makes those successes more impressive is the durability those fighters are known for… This is a highlight of Buckley’s explosiveness and sheer power he enters the cage with, and now, with another legend in front of him, it’s incredibly difficult to envision him giving up the opportunity to defeat another former champ whilst holding onto so much momentum right now.

A knockout we’ll never forget 🤩

Catch @NewMansa94 back in action on Saturday night headlining #UFCAtlanta 🫡

[ LIVE SAT 10pmET on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/xBAgTnwdkC

— UFC (@ufc) June 12, 2025

Usman vs Buckley Betting Trends

• Buckley has won 6 straight UFC fights since 2023
• Usman has lost 3 straight UFC fights over the last 3 years
• Usman has fought just 4 times since November 2021

Usman vs Buckley Best Bet: Buckley by KO

Wrestling is still Usman’s path to victory in this matchup because, although we’ve watched him stand and bang with the likes of Covington, he won’t have those luxuries versus the ultra-quick and fight-ending fists and kicks of Buckley.

So, the question is, can Usman utilize takedowns and top control for at least 3 of the 5 rounds and avoid taking damage simultaneously? Probably not…

Even in his past successes, multiple opponents of Usman have found success on the feet, but none of them have quite the athletic brutality and all-around explosiveness of Buckley. Not to mention, he’ll have no issues putting his hooks in to defend takedowns with sheer strength!

38 years old, coming off a long layoff, the knees of a Grandad, and a limited striking offense going against a wrecking ball of a young and powerful contender… Yeah, give me some UFC prop bets to mitigate the juice: Buckley by knockout at plus-money!

Bet on Buckley to win by Knockout (+150)

UFC Atlanta How to Watch

• Date and Time: Saturday, June. 14, 2025 – 07:00 p.m. ET
• Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
• Usman vs Buckley Live Stream: UFC Fight Pass
• Main Event Bout: Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley
• Co-Main Event Bout: Rose Namajunas vs. Miranda Maverick
• Moneyline Probability: Usman – 55.6% (-270) Buckley – 48.8% (+222)

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