UFC Fight Night Atlanta is headlined by Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley on Saturday, June 14, with an exciting card top to bottom. UFC Fight Night: Usman vs. Buckley features multiple fights with big names, with the potential for dominant performances or big time upsets on ESPN.
With the theme of veteran fighters vs. up-and-comers throughout the card, we’re in for an exciting fight night. The Usman vs. Buckley main event is the most notable, with former champion and UFC Legend Kamara Usman (20-4) looking to get back on track against on-fire welterweight contender in Joaquin Buckley (21-6).
Co-headlining the UFC Atlanta card is the former women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas vs. Miranda Maverick, an elite submission artist,.
Click here to find UFC Fight Night: Usman vs. Buckley Main Card Predictions below, including PrizePicks UFC picks and predictions for Saturday’s Fight Night.
We'll break down every main card fight in UFC Atlanta Fight Night: Usman vs Buckley, including top picks and PrizePicks predictions.
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UFC Atlanta Fight Night Projections & Start Times: Usman vs. Buckley
UFC Fight Night: Usman vs. Buckley will start at 10 p.m. ET with the main card prelims on Saturday, June 14, while the Usman vs. Buckley main event is expected to start at 12 a.m. ET — subject to change based on other fights before it.
UFC Fight Night: Usman vs. Buckley projections below are via the PrizePicks MMA board as of Friday at 6 p.m. ET.
Here’s the UFC Fight Night: Usman vs. Buckley main card schedule and projections, in reverse order.
Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley – Main Event
- Main event
- Welterweight
- Expected start time: 12 a.m. ET
- Usman Projections: 57.5 Significant Strikes, 2 Takedowns, 14.5 Round 1 Significant Strikes
- Buckley Projections: 68.5 Significant Strikes, 15.5 Round 1 Significant Strikes
- Significant Strikes (Combo): 126.5
- Fight Time Projection: 20.5 minutes
- Usman vs. Buckley Prediction
Rose Namajunas vs. Miranda Maverick – Co-Main Event
- Co-main event
- Women’s Flyweight
- Expected start time: 11:30 p.m. ET
- Namajunas Projections: 47.5 Significant Strikes, 17.5 Round 1 Significant Strikes
- Maverick Projections: 41.5 Significant Strikes, 1.5 Takedowns, 15.5 Round 1 Significant Strikes
- Significant Strikes (Combo): 89.5
- Namajunas vs. Maverick Prediction
Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Andre Petroski
- Middleweight
- Expected start time: 11 p.m. ET
- Shahbazyan Projections: 35.5 Significant Strikes, 21.5 Round 1 Significant Strikes
- Petroski Projections: 21.5 Significant Strikes, 2 Takedowns, 14.5 Round 1 Significant Strikes
- Significant Strikes (Combo): 57.5
- Fight Time Projection: 10 minutes
- Shahbazyan vs. Petroski Prediction
Cody Garbrandt vs. Raoni Barcelos
- Bantamweight
- Expected start time: 10:30 p.m. ET
- Garbrandt Projections: 30.5 Significant Strikes, 13.5 Round 1 Significant Strikes
- Barcelos Projections: 46.5 Significant Strikes, 2 Takedowns, 18.5 Round 1 Significant Strikes
- Significant Strikes (Combo): 77.5
- Fight Time Projection: 12.75 minutes
- Garbrandt vs. Barcelos Prediction
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Cody Brundage
- Middleweight
- Expected start time: 10 p.m. ET
- Abdul-Malik Projections: 22.5 Significant Strikes, 19.5 Round 1 Significant Strikes
- Brundage Projections: 15.5 Significant Strikes, 13.5 Round 1 Significant Strikes
- Significant Strikes (Combo): 38.5
- Fight Time Projection: 5.5 minutes
- Abdul-Malik vs. Brundage Prediction
Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley Prediction & Preview
Former UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman is on a three-fight loss streak, but the stats don’t tell the entire story of the elite grappler. A few key moments within Usman’s fights made the difference between maintaining his belt and where he is now.
In this matchup, Usman will be pulling out all the stops in hopes of regaining confidence and maintaining his reputation as one of the greatest welterweights of all time.
Since his return to welterweight in 2023, Buckley has looked impressive. Riding a six-fight win streak including four finishes, Buckley will look to continue on a path that most likely will lead to title contention.
Usman vs. Buckley Prediction: Usman 2 Takedowns
- Usman averages 2.82 takedowns per 15 minutes.
- Buckley has 74% takedown defense.
- Usman’s average fight time is 17:27 minutes.
- Buckley has only been taken down two times since his return to Welterweight.
Rose Namajunas vs. Miranda Maverick Prediction & Preview
Many fans might believe Rose Namajunas is in the twilight of her career after being the face of the Women’s Flyweight division and UFC champion. However, with the swing of elite talent to the top of Women’s Flyweight, it has proved as challenging as ever to remain at striking distance of the belt.
In an attempt to regain her position amongst the top five, Namajunas will face off against the No. 11 flyweight, Miranda Maverick.
While Namajunas has struggled to string wins together since her move to flyweight in 2023, there is no doubt about the talent she has been defeated by, with her two losses coming against top five fighters in the division in Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot. Even in defeat, Namajunas maintains some of the most elite offense in UFC.
Across from her stands the rising star Miranda Maverick, who has showcased elite grappling on her run to this matchup. Maverick will look to use Namajunas as a stepping stone to title contention, eerily similar to the narrative in our main event of the evening.
Namajunas vs. Maverick Prediction: Maverick 1.5 Takedowns
- Maverick averages 2.39 takedowns per 15 minutes.
- Namajunas has 61% takedown defense.
- Namajunas has been taken down eight times in her last three fights.
- Both fighters' previous fights went to decision.
Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Andre Petrosk Prediction & Preview
Prolific finisher Edmen Shahbazyan takes on Andre Petroski at UFC Atlanta in what has fight of the night potential written all over it.
Shahbazyan has 14 victories, 13 being finishes, and 12 occuring in the very first round. Since joining the UFC in 2018, only two of his fights have made it to the judges’ scorecard. Shahbazyan guarantees excitement every time he steps foot in the octagon.
On the other side, since his two-fight skid ending in 2024, Petroski has managed to put together three wins in a row, all by unanimous decision. Petroski will look to continue his streak in Atlanta and — to the delight of fans seeking a hard-hitting fight — potentially add another signature finish to his resume.
Shahbazyan vs. Petroski Prediction: Fight Time 10 Minutes
- Petroski’s last three fights have ended in a decision.
- 12-of-14 wins have been a first-round finish for Shahbazyan.
- Shahbazyan's average fight time is 7:01.
- Shahbazyan’s last three fights have ended in under five minutes.
Cody Garbrandt vs. Raoni Barcelos Prediction & Preview
Many UFC fans have long awaited the return of prime Cody Garbrandt. However, in recent years the former bantamweight champion has seen both the highest of highs and lowest of lows. After a submission defeat in his last bout, Garbrandt will look to do what he does best: land a highlight knockout and return to the win column.
Barcelos is riding high after derailing the hype train of rising star Peyton Talbott in a dominant decision win, and a signature win here against the former champion would propel Barcelos towards the top of Bantamweight. Barcelos is the definition of well-rounded, and will look to use all of the tools in this matchup.
Garbrandt vs. Barcelos Prediction: Significant Strikes (Combo) 77.5
- Barcelos lands 5.11 Significant Strikes per minute.
- Garbrandt has 34% takedown accuracy, but 80% takedown defense.
- Barcelos has 37% takedown accuracy, but 82% takedown defense.
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Cody Brundage: Pick & Preview
Cody Brundage is no stranger to being thrown into the fire, as the UFC has selected him to be a test for upcoming UFC prospects. Fraud check bouts against names like Zachary Reese and Bo Nickel were first up, and Mansur Abdul-Malik is the next name on the list.
Brundage has proved a formidable gatekeeper — both durable and versatile with six knockouts and three submissions against some of the best prospects in the sport.
Abdul-Malik has a chance to be the next big prospect in the UFC middleweight division, with eight finishes in eight fights — six of them coming in the first round. Brundage will once again look to play spoiler on a fighter hoping he belongs amongst the elite in the division.
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Cody Brundage: Fight Time 5.5 Minutes
- Every Abdul-Malik fight has ended in a finish.
- Brundage has an average fight time of five minutes and 49 seconds.
- Over 50% of these fighters' fights have ended in the first round.
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UFC Atlanta Fight Night: Usman vs. Buckley is set to bring us exciting fights on Saturday night. The main card will start around 10 p.m. ET, you’ve locked in your UFC Lineups on PrizePicks — it’s the easiest way to get real money action on UFC Atlanta Fight Night: Usman vs Buckley.
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With a diversified card featuring multiple long-time fan favorites, former champions, and a fair share of rising contenders, it will be an exciting night of fights in the State Farm Arena from Atlanta.
Head to the PrizePicks app, pick More or Less on two or more fighters, lock in your picks, and get ready for the sweat during UFC Atlanta Fight Night: Usman vs. Buckley.
