UFC Atlanta: Usman vs. Buckley Main Card Predictions & Betting Odds

Last week’s double-championship main card in New Jersey at UFC 316 certainly lived up to the hype. Three submissions on the main card, a new champ, and a finish from one of the most decision-heavy champions in the UFC today. How will this weekend’s UFC Atlanta measure up?

Well, it’s no PPV, but we’ve actually got some juice in the main and co-main events of this main card at State Farm Arena. In the main event, former welterweight champ Kamaru Usman will try to fend off his slow downfall against No. 7 Joaquin Buckley. Usman is an underdog though.

In the co-main, another former champ and No. 7 women’s flyweight contender Rose Namajunas will look to bounce back against No. 11 Miranda Maverick. Read on for the best UFC betting odds and our predictions for the top two fights of the night!

Note: None of our best bets feature odds shorter than -200.

UFC Atlanta: Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley Main Card Predictions & Betting Odds - June 14

All odds provided by Betway.

No. 5 Kamaru Usman vs. No. 7 Joaquin Buckley Welterweight Bout Betting Odds

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Kamaru Usman (20-4) was once on a GOAT trajectory. Now he’s just trying to go out with some dignity. The head kick heard ‘round the world changed everything, and he has lost two majority decisions against Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev since then. No slouches. But it has been two years since the Chimaev fight, and Usman is pushing 40.

Joaquin Buckley (21-6) meanwhile, is in his athletic prime at 31. And it seems he’s found the correct weight class after moving down from middleweight to welterweight in 2023. Since then, he’s won all six of his fights, four via finish, including against the likes of Vicente Luque and former title challengers Stephen Thompson and Colby Covington.

Buckley is stronger and faster than Usman. He’s aggressive, but he’s also very defensively sound. A very frustrating combination. His 73 percent takedown defense also means it will be tough for the wrestling-inclined Usman to get to his comfort zone. Nonetheless, we saw him battle for five rounds against Edwards and Chimaev. He can definitely still go the distance. And he’s as durable as they come. Since his second-ever fight in 2013, the only time he’s been finished was with that fateful head kick from Edwards.

We don’t see a moment that special coming from Buckley. He finished Thompson and Covington, two tough sonuvaguns, but we believe Usman has more left in the tank than them. Not to mention Usman could win a round or two if we do go deep, as Buckley’s never fought more than three rounds. All things considered, a bet on Buckley’s +175 odds to win via decision—which offer more value than betting apps are giving for a win via KO/TKO—seem like the smartest play here.

Best Bet: Joaquin Buckley to Win via Decision (+175)

No. 7 Rose Namajunas vs. No. 11 Miranda Maverick Women’s Flyweight Championship Bout Betting Odds

Rose Namajunas (13-7) may be 11 years into her UFC career, but she’s still only 32 years old. And with just 20 fights, not a ton of wear and tear. But she’s fought the best of this division for years, while Miranda Maverick (15-5) has yet to prove herself among the best of the best. She has only fought three really quality fighters—Jasmine Jasudavicius, Erin Blanchfield, and Maycee Barber—and she lost to all three.

We think her ceiling will be revealed here and Namajunas will bounce back after a loss to Blanchfield in December. With a dominant performance, Thug Rose could even get back in the title shot conversation. She has only won one fight by finish since 2017, so the -163 odds on Namajunas to win via decision look lovely.

Best Bet: Rose Namajunas to Win via Decision (-163)/Betway