“I feel like the hot chick at the bar, everybody wants a piece,” Kamaru Usman said on the Pound for Pound podcast, showing how much beating him still means for contenders right now. Joaquin Buckley had the whole crowd fired up after battering Colby Covington at UFC Tempa, and when he dropped Usman’s name, the response was crazy. The stakes couldn’t be higher. But at the same time, a loss here could be detrimental for Usman.

Then, UFC boss Dana White just dropped a bombshell: the former 170-pound kingpin is finally making his long-awaited return after almost two years on the sidelines. From 2015 to 2022, nobody could slip away from ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’s grasp, but then came three tough losses back-to-back, crashing him from the top. Meanwhile, Joaquin Buckley made a smart move, dropping down from middleweight to welterweight, and currently it’s paying off in silver. He’s been on fire, riding a six-fight winning streak and climbing fast.

Many believe Kamaru Usman’s glory days are behind him, and there’s little chance he’ll handle a contender who just beat his old rival, Colby Covington, to a pulp. Michael Bisping, while not outright predicting a loss for the former champ, suggested that if things go south against Buckley in Atlanta, it might be time for Usman to hang up the gloves.

‘The Count’ reacting to the UFC Atlanta main event on his YouTube channel said, “If Kamaru Usman loses this fight, will that be the end of his career? I’m not throwing any shades. I’ve got nothing but the greatest respect and deep admiration for Kamaru Usman. He’s a solid human being and an incredible fighter. He’s been a great ambassador for this sport. However, 37 years old, hasn’t been too active, and if you lose 04th in a row, maybe it’s time to think about walking away from the sport.”

“As I say, I don’t say that lightly. He’s a great guy. But we know Joaquin Buckely is coming into this one revved up! This is the biggest fight of his career, and they always are, by the way. But this one is the big one, this one is the final hurdle. This is the one that gets him a title fight, maybe if he’s victorious. He’s only 30 years old.”

Although it’s up to Usman when he wants to retire, Bisping’s take makes a lot of sense. Usman’s been there, done that. He’s already a certified legend of the sport. So honestly, it might be best for him to call it quits (if he loses this one). That said, with all his experience, there’s always a shot he could bounce back strong. Let’s not forget that he pushed Khamzat Chimaev to the edge when most thought it would be one-sided. So who knows? Maybe this layoff gave him exactly what he needed to shock everyone once again.

The former welterweight champ usually does his best work when he’s got five rounds to play with. There were already questions after the ‘Borz’ fight about what could’ve happened if it went the full distance. Now, against Buckley, he finally gets that chance. The longer it goes, the more the fight could lean in Usman’s favor, especially if Buckley’s explosiveness starts to fade. At least that’s what his podcast co-host Henry Cejudo thinks.

Henry Cejudo believes five rounds work in Kamaru Usman’s favor against Joaquin Buckley

Joaquin Buckley’s forward pressure has been a real treat to watch lately. He’s dismantled divisional legends like Stephen Thompson, Vicente Luque, and, of course, former interim champ Colby Covington. So yeah, his chances look pretty good to put on a clinic against Kamaru Usman too. But not so fast—Usman’s podcast co-host, Henry Cejudo, thinks Buckley’s firepower can be answered in a five-round fight.

‘Triple C’ at Pound for Pound podcast said, “Stylistically, without giving too much. Obviously, he’s an explosive fighter. He knows how to cover distance very, very well. Is this this the main event in Atlanta?” Kamaru replies, “Henry, I’m fighting, bro, what do you think?” I think 05 rounds does benefit you.”

Another veteran vs newcomer battle is here! Will Kamaru Usman bounce back and show he’s still got it? Or will Joaquin Buckley wave the flag for the new age of UFC fighters? Drop your comments  below

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