UFC on ESPN: Usman vs. Buckley
{{Short description|Mixed martial arts event in 2025}}
{{Infobox MMA event
|name= UFC on ESPN: Usman vs. Buckley
|image= UFC on ESPN 69.jpg
|promotion= Ultimate Fighting Championship
|date= {{start date|2025|6|14}}
|venue= State Farm Arena
|city = Atlanta, Georgia, United States
|previousevent= UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs O'Malley 2
|followingevent= UFC on ABC: Hill vs. Rountree Jr.
}}
UFC on ESPN: Usman vs. Buckley (also known as UFC on ESPN 69) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on June 14, 2025, at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-Announces-Return-to-Atlanta-on-June-14-196601|title=UFC announces return to Atlanta on June 14|publisher=sherdog.com|author=Tristen Critchfield|date=2025-04-05|access-date=2025-04-06}}
Background
The event marked the promotion's fifth visit to Atlanta and first since UFC 236 in April 2019.
A welterweight bout between former UFC Welterweight Champion (also The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians welterweight winner) Kamaru Usman and Joaquin Buckley headlined the event.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2025/04/25/joaquin-buckley-draws-ex-champ-kamaru-usman-in-ufc-atlanta-headliner/83246410007/|title=Joaquin Buckley draws former champion Kamaru Usman in June UFC Fight Night 257 headliner|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Farah Hannoun|date=2025-04-25|access-date=2025-04-25}}
A light heavyweight bout between Alonzo Menifield and Oumar Sy took place for this event.{{Cite web|title=Oumar Sy returns: a victory to enter the Top 15?|url=https://lasueur.com/oumar-sy-de-retour-une-victoire-pour-entrer-dans-le-top-15-21-03-2025|date=2025-03-21|access-date=2025-03-21|publisher=lasueur.com|author=Jeepiboyg}} {{in lang|fr}} They were previously scheduled to meet at UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Brady in March but Sy had to withdraw due to an injury.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2025/02/ufc-news-alonzo-menifield-nursulton-ruziboev-fights-seattle|title=UFC newcomers to battle Alonzo Menifield, Nursulton Ruziboev in Seattle|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King|date=2025-02-13|access-date=2025-02-13}}
A light heavyweight bout between Paul Craig and former interim LFA Light Heavyweight Champion Rodolfo Bellato took place at this event.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2025/5/22/24435474/paul-craig-rodolfo-bellato-rescheduled-ufc-atlanta-june|title=Paul Craig vs. Rodolfo Bellato rescheduled for UFC Atlanta after herpes scrapped previous fight|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Guilherme Cruz|date=2025-05-22|access-date=2025-05-23}} They were originally scheduled to compete at UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales one month prior, but the bout was cancelled during the event as a result of Bellato having a herpes infection.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmamania.com/2025/5/18/24432448/rodolfo-bellato-herpes-being-pulled-from-ufc-vegas-106-co-main-event-never-thought-paul-craig|title=Rodolfo Bellato reacts being pulled from UFC Vegas 106 co-main event - 'Never thought herpes would take me out'|publisher=mmamania.com|author=Alexander Behunin|date=2025-05-18|access-date=2025-05-18}}
A women's flyweight bout between former LFA Women's Flyweight Champion Jamey-Lyn Horth and Tereza Bledá was scheduled for this event.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2025/4/2/24399969/jamey-lyn-horth-vs-tereza-bleda-set-for-ufc-atlanta|title=Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Tereza Bleda set for UFC Atlanta|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Mike Heck|date=2025-04-02|access-date=2025-04-02}} However, Bledá withdrew from the fight due to a staph infection and was replaced by former LFA Women's Strawweight Champion Vanessa Demopoulos.{{Cite web|title=The bad luck continues. Czech fighter had to cancel another fight in UFC|url=https://www.sport.cz/clanek/bojove-sporty-mma-smula-pokracuje-ceska-bojovnice-musela-v-ufc-zrusit-dalsi-zapas-5245309|date=2025-06-03|access-date=2025-06-04|publisher=sport.cz|author=David Suchý}} {{in lang|cs}}
Ricky Simón was scheduled to face Charles Jourdain in a bantamweight bout at this event.{{Cite web|author=Jay Anderson|date=2025-05-08|title=Ricky Simon vs. Charles Jourdain scheduled for UFC Atlanta|url=https://cagesidepress.com/2025/05/08/ricky-simon-vs-charles-jourdain-scheduled-for-ufc-atlanta/|access-date=2025-05-08|publisher=cagesidepress.com}} However, Jourdain withdrew during fight week due to an eye injury and was replaced by Cameron Smotherman.{{Cite web|url=https://clutchpoints.com/ufc/ufc-atlanta-charles-jourdain-out-cameron-smotherman-steps-in-against-ricky-simon|title=UFC Atlanta: Charles Jourdain Out, Cameron Smotherman steps in against Ricky Simon|publisher=clutchpoints.com|author=Garrett Kerman|date=2025-06-10|access-date=2025-06-10}}
Results
{{MMAevent}}
{{MMAevent card|Fight card (ESPN / ESPN+)}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Welterweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 49–46, 48–47)
|5
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Flyweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Middleweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Bantamweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Middleweight
|Mansur Abdul-Malik
|def.
|Technical Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28)
|3
|0:36
|An accidental clash of heads rendered Brundage unable to continue.
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Light Heavyweight
|def.
|Oumar Sy
|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent card|Preliminary card (ESPN+)|header=no}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Light Heavyweight
|vs.
|Rodolfo Bellato
|No Contest (illegal upkick)
|1
|4:59
|An accidental illegal upkick rendered Bellato unable to continue.
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Welterweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Bantamweight
|Malcolm Wellmaker
|def.
|Kris Moutinho
|KO (punch)
|1
|2:37
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Flyweight
|Jose Ochoa
|def.
|KO (punches)
|2
|0:11
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Bantamweight
|def.
|Cameron Smotherman
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Welterweight
|def.
|Ange Loosa
|TKO (punches)
|3
|4:03
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Flyweight
|Jamey-Lyn Horth
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent end|notes=yes}}
Bonus awards
The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bjpenn.com/mma-news/ufc-atlanta/ufc-atlanta-bonus-report-kamaru-usman-and-joaquin-buckley-earn-fotn-honors/|title=UFC Atlanta Bonus Report: Kamaru Usman and Joaquin Buckley earn FOTN honors|publisher=bjpenn.com|author=Chris Taylor|date=2025-06-15|access-date=2025-06-15}}
- Fight of the Night: Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley
- Performance of the Night: Malcolm Wellmaker and Jose Ochoa
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{UFC Events}}
{{2025 in mixed martial arts}}
Category:2025 in mixed martial arts
Category:2025 in sports in Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:June 2025 sports events in the United States
Category:Mixed martial arts in Georgia (U.S. state)