Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has congratulated former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman on his emphatic return to the octagon, following his victory over American fighter Joaquin Buckley in Atlanta on Sunday.
Describing the performance as a proud moment for Nigeria, Dabiri-Erewa praised Usman for once again proving himself a worthy ambassador of the country on the global stage.
“Congratulations to the Nigerian Nightmare, Kamaru Usman, as he beats Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta. Proudly Nigerian. Hearty congratulations,” she posted on her official X handle, sharing a collage of images from the bout and a 2021 photo of herself with Usman holding the welterweight championship belt.
The win marked a major comeback for the 37-year-old Nigerian-American, who snapped a nearly four-year winless streak with a dominant unanimous decision over Buckley. Judges scored the bout 49–46, 49–46, and 48–47 in Usman’s favour, reaffirming his elite status in mixed martial arts.
Usman showcased his renowned wrestling prowess and tactical mastery across five rounds, out-landing Buckley 16–0 in major strikes during the early exchanges while controlling the pace with timely takedowns and superior cage management.
“It feels good. It’s been a while,” Usman said in his post-fight interview. “I needed to get that monkey off my back. I know I’m still able to do this at the highest level.” Now boasting a professional MMA record of 21 wins and 4 losses, Usman used the moment to silence critics who had questioned his fitness and longevity.
“I know it’s a running joke—people talking about my knees online. Well, shut the f* up. I can still do what I do,**” he fired back defiantly.
Throughout the fight, the former welterweight king used his experience to wear down Buckley, who came into the bout on a six-fight unbeaten streak. Despite a late flurry from Buckley in the final round, Usman’s early dominance sealed the win.
The victory was Usman’s first since November 2021, and many now believe it could be the start of a renewed title push. Speaking confidently after the bout, he issued a warning to the division’s top contenders.
“I could do that to anybody—any one of them. Those knockouts will come. The next one, whoever it is for that title, I’mma see about you,” he declared.
Visibly emotional, Usman expressed gratitude to his fans, coaches, and family—especially noting the absence of his daughter, who couldn’t attend due to personal reasons.
“It’s been a long time. A lot of emotions, a lot of things that I had to battle back from. I’m holding back all the emotions,” he said, holding back tears.
As the UFC landscape continues to shift, Usman’s performance not only reasserts his relevance in the welterweight division but also reignites hope for another title run by one of Nigeria’s most decorated combat sports athletes.
