Former interim champion and two-time title challenger Colby Covington faced off against Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa. The event took place at the Amalie Arena, where a sold-out crowd gathered to witness the clash.
Colby Covington and Joaquin Buckley, UFC Tampa ceremonial weigh-ins at the Amalie Arena, Dec. 13, 2024 Credit: Jay Anderson/Cageside Press
Background of the Fighters
Colby Covington, known for carefully selecting his fights, had been averaging one fight per year this decade. He often favors matchups with older fighters nearing the end of their careers, such as Tyron Woodley and Jorge Masvidal. His last fight was against Leon Edwards in December 2023, where he didn't appear to be at his best.
Joaquin Buckley, on the other hand, made a significant impact with a highlight-reel knockout of Impa Kasanganay in 2020. After trading wins and losses at middleweight, he moved down to welterweight in 2023. Since then, Buckley has been on a tear, improving with each fight.
The Fight Breakdown
Buckley was aggressive early, giving Covington a taste of his famed power as he pushed the pace and landed on multiple occasions. He also stuffed Covington’s first takedown attempt, cutting his rival in the opening moments.
Read also: Bitter Rivalry: Poirier and Covington
In the final seconds of the first round, Buckley dropped Covington with a well-timed right hand, completing a dominant round. As blood flowed down from Covington’s eye, doctors examined him heading into the second round.
Round two began similarly, with Buckley landing at will and Covington struggling to secure a takedown. However, two minutes into the round, Covington managed to get the takedown and gain side control, showcasing his superior wrestling skills.
Despite Covington's ground control, the fight returned to the feet, and Covington’s eye appeared to have opened up further. The pair taunted each other as the round ended, with the focus on Covington’s eye as they headed to the corner, where a doctor expressed concern about the injury.
Buckley continued to land significant strikes in the third round, even ending up on top at one point. Ultimately, it was Covington’s cut that led to the fight being stopped, resulting in a dominant victory for Buckley.
It was nice to see Covington sign-up this type of matchup, but the fight also showed us that Covington’s age and inactivity has finally started to catch up to him. His time near the top of the division is over, but he still might have enough to win a few fights here and there.
On the Buckley side of things, “New Mansa” looked as explosive as ever. He has kept improving every time out since making the move to 170 lbs. This has by far been the most productive calendar year for him, going 4-0 with three ranked wins over Vicente Luque, Thompson and now Covington all by knockout.
While the name value here is good, it’s still unclear how much those wins will ultimately tell us about his long-term potential in the title picture as he has yet to face a top contender his age. Only time will tell, but for the time being, Buckley has shown that he is clearly ahead of the current Luques, Thompsons and Covingtons of the world.
How Joaquin Buckley Became a UFC Title Contender in 2024 | MORNING KOMBAT
The Result
Colby Covington was stopped by Joaquin Buckley and the doctors in a one-sided UFC Tampa main event on Saturday night at the Amalie Arena. Buckley's dominant performance solidified his position as a legitimate threat in the 170-pound weight class. This was a dominant way to wrap up the year, and should land the surging St. Louis native another marquee assignment whenever he’s ready to get back to business in 2025.
Additional Fight Highlights from UFC Tampa
The UFC Tampa event featured several other exciting fights and finishes:
- Dustin Jacoby landed a flush right hand on Vitor Petrino, securing a knockout victory.
- Manel Kape defeated Bruno Silva before calling for a championship opportunity.
- Cub Swanson secured an amazing finish, adding another memorable performance to his career.
UFC Tampa Best Bets Recap
Here's a recap of the best bets for UFC Tampa:
| Fighter/Parlay | Odds | Risk | To Win |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cub Swanson vs. Quarantillo | +130 | 1 Unit | 1.3 Units |
| Parlay: Vitor Petrino/Joaquin Buckley | -109 | 1.09 Units | 1 Unit |
| Adrian Yanez vs. Marcos | +185 | 1 Unit | 1.85 Units |
| Joel Alvarez to win inside the distance | -140 | 1.4 Units | 1 Unit |
| Sean Woodson vs. Padilla | -148 | 1.48 Units | 1 Unit |
| Jamey-Lyn Horth Over 0.5 Takedowns vs. Maverick | +130 | 1 Unit | 1 Unit |
| Piera Rodriguez vs. | +215 |