Joaquin Buckley added to the woes of Colby Covington on Saturday night, battering the former interim welterweight champion in the main event of UFC Tampa.
Buckley clearly took the opening round, stopping every takedown attempt from Covington and damaging his eye, including a knockdown of “Chaos” late in the round. The rising contender continued to land well in the second round, and while he was taken down once, “New Mansa” managed to work his way up with strength and still showed strong defense.
Covington, who was warned about the cut around his eye that had been busted up over two rounds, continued to be battered as the fight entered the third. Even when the fight was on the ground, Buckley’s attack showed no sign of slowing, targeting that cut.
In the midst of the third round, the doctor was called in to check on the cut and ruled that Covington could no longer safely continue.
man I knows he’s gonna have a bunch of excuses but he just sucks
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) December 15, 2024
Buckley looked phenomenal. What a performance. This is the best Buckley I’ve ever seen #UFCTampa
— Ode'
sbourne (@OdeOsbourne)
Buckley on a mission
— Nazim Sadykhov (@naz_mma) December 15, 2024
This marked Buckley’s sixth straight win and perhaps his biggest since a viral knockout of Impa Kasaganay. This most likely will give him a top-five contender as his next opponent.
Covington, meanwhile, has now lost three of his last four. This was his first fight in almost exactly one year since his unsuccessful challenge of then-UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards at UFC 296.