Right then, here we are again with another UFC Fight Night card, this time in Atlanta, where former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman attempts to salvage what’s left of his reputation against the surging Joaquin Buckley. But honestly, at 38 years old and coming off three consecutive defeats, is Usman simply prolonging the inevitable decline that befalls every aging champion?

The Main Event Madness

Usman versus Buckley represents everything brilliant and tragic about mixed martial arts. Here’s a bloke who dominated the welterweight division for years, defending his title five times, now desperately trying to prove he’s not completely finished. Meanwhile, Buckley’s riding high on momentum, having knocked out Stephen Thompson in spectacular fashion. The Nigerian Nightmare looks more like the Nigerian Daydream these days, but writing him off completely would be foolish.

The co-main event features Rose Namajunas taking on Miranda Maverick, and whilst Maverick’s four-fight winning streak is impressive, she’s about to discover what happens when you step up several levels in competition. Namajunas might not be the strawweight champion anymore, but she’s still got that veteran craftiness that separates the wheat from the chaff.

Veterans Facing Reality Checks

Cody Garbrandt’s presence on this card feels particularly depressing. Remember when this lad was knocking out Dominick Cruz and looked destined for greatness? Now he’s fighting Raoni Barcelos after more than a year away from competition. Father Time remains undefeated, and Garbrandt’s chin hasn’t improved with age. Barcelos should capitalise on No Love’s fragility.

The preliminary card reads exactly what you’d expect from a Fight Night event – a mixture of prospects, veterans hanging on, and journeymen hoping for one more payday. Paul Craig’s still doing his triangle choke routine, Michael Chiesa’s still grinding out decisions, and somewhere Dana White’s probably calculating the gate receipts whilst pretending this card will set the world alight.

The Undefeated Hype Train

Mansur Abdul-Malik enters undefeated with a perfect finishing rate, which sounds impressive until you realise he’s only had three professional fights. The UFC’s obsession with undefeated records often leads to premature promotions, but Abdul-Malik faces Cody Brundage, who’s essentially a professional gatekeeper. If the prospect can’t handle Brundage, he’s got no business in the octagon with serious competition.

Court McGee fighting Michael Chiesa is the sort of matchup that makes you wonder if the UFC’s matchmakers have completely lost the plot. McGee’s 42 years old and hasn’t been relevant since Obama was president. This feels more charitable than competitive, though in fairness, Chiesa needs an easy night after his recent struggles.

The women’s strawweight bout between Vanessa Demopoulos and Jamey-Lyn Horth represents the harsh reality of short-notice fights. Demopoulos is moving up in weight on minimal preparation, which historically ends badly for everyone involved except the betting favourites.

Final Verdict

Atlanta deserves better than this card, but it’s what we’ve got. Usman’s career hangs in the balance, several veterans are fighting Father Time, and the prospects need to prove they belong at this level. The beauty of MMA lies in its unpredictability, though sometimes that unpredictability manifests as watching formerly great fighters get battered by hungrier competition. What’s your prediction for Usman – does the former champion have one more vintage performance left, or should he start considering retirement?