USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, June 17: Former champs on the rise
USA TODAY Sports
The UFC's trip to Atlanta saw two former champions pick up key victories.
In the main event of UFC on ESPN 69, Kamaru Usman turned back the clock for a dominant display against a surging Joaquin Buckley. Usman (21-4 MMA, 16-3 UFC) survived a final-round surge from Buckley (21-7 MMA, 11-5 UFC) to win an otherwise smothering performance reminiscent of his championship days.
In the co-feature, former women's strawweight champ Rose Namajunas (14-7 MMA, 12-6 UFC) picked up a unanimous decision win over Miranda Maverick (15-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC).
Both former champions returned to the win column and, as a result, move up spots in their respective divisions in this week's update.
Check out the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.
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