Kamal Usman is ready to return to the top of the welterweight mountain.
The former champion, who wore the UFC’s 170-pound crown from 2019-2022, was successfully squeezed at 171 pounds (using 1 pound allowance for a pound fight) for the UFC Atlanta main event matchup with Joaquin Buckley on Friday morning. This marks Usman’s first fight at welterweight since March 2023. He lost a trilogy match against rival Leon Edwards and was unable to regain his belt.
Buckley also successfully hit the headliner mark on Saturday, coming in at 171 pounds. Since moving out of middleweight, Buckley has been on an incredible run, winning six consecutive battles and winning over longtime contenders Colby Covington and Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. He is currently the welterweight division, ranked 7th in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings.
Saturday’s co-main event will feature Rosena Majunas and Miranda Maverick both weighing at 126 pounds. Namajunas, a two-time champion at 115 pounds and 13th in the world pounds, aims to remain in the flyweight title photo by defeating the surged Maverick, who has won four consecutive fights.
Middleweight Mansoor Abdul Malik has brought drama to the lawsuit, with 26 fighters set to compete in UFC Atlanta, and weight gaining normal weight.
Abdul Malik was the last fighter to weigh, initially coming at just 1 pound. With less than 10 minutes left in the official measuring in window, Abdulmalik returned after leaving the stage before he peeled off and hit the 186 pound mark under the box covering.
See UFC Atlanta measurement results below.
Main Card (ESPN, ESPN + 10pm (ET ET))
Kamal Usman (171) vs. Joaquin Buckley (171)
Rose Namajun (126) vs. Miranda Maverick (126)
Edmen Shabajan (185) vs. Andre Petrosky (186)
Cody Garbrandt (136) vs. Raoni Barcelos (136)
Mansur Abdul-Malik (186) vs. Cody Bundage (186)
Alonzo Menifield (206) vs. Oumar SY (206)
Spare card (ESPN + 7pm ET)
Paul Craig (206) vs. Rodolfoverato (5/205)
Michael Chiesa (171) vs. Court McGee (170)
Malcolm Wellmaker (136) vs. Kris Moutinho (136)
Cody Darden (126) vs Jose Ochoa (125)
Ricky Simon (136) vs. Cameron Smotherman (136)
Phil Ro Phel (171) vs. Age Losa (171)
Jamey-Lyn Hornh (126) vs. Vanessa Demopoulos (126)