‘Big Cap from Chael’ – Joaquin Buckley Calls Out Sonnen for Downplaying Colby Covington Loss

‘Big Cap from Chael’ - Joaquin Buckley Calls Out Sonnen for Downplaying Colby Covington LossJoaquin Buckley doesn’t appreciate Chael Sonnen trying to downplay his win over Colby Covington in December. Closing out the…

‘Big Cap from Chael’ - Joaquin Buckley Calls Out Sonnen for Downplaying Colby Covington Loss

Joaquin Buckley doesn’t appreciate Chael Sonnen trying to downplay his win over Colby Covington in December.

Closing out the UFC’s year in sunny Tampa, Florida, ‘New Mansa’ delivered a dominant performance against the former three-time title challenger, earning a doctor’s stoppage TKO in the third round of their welterweight headliner.

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Sonnen, who was in Covington’s corner that new, ultimately threw in the towel after Covington sustained a nasty cut over his right eyelid. But despite watching his fighter get bloodied and battered for nearly three full rounds, ‘The American Gangster’ did his best to console Covington backstage.

In a video clip, which you can see below, Sonnen went through a list of things ‘Chaos’ did well and suggested that the outspoken Trump supporter was beginning to “turn the tide” before the stoppage came.

Needless to say, Buckley didn’t appreciate Sonnen trying to discredit the biggest win of his career.

“It’s big Cap from Chael, you know,” Buckley said of Sonnen’s post-fight comments during an interview with Parry Punch. “Sometimes you gonna say whatever you got to say in order to, you know, protect Colby. But, you know, people saw it. You know what I mean? People—people saw the fight. They can already see that I was not slowing down. I was actually picking up the pace.”

Joaquin Buckley wants to headline UFC Kansas City with Kamaru Usman

Following his win over Covington, Buckley called for a clash with former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. ‘New Mansa’ echoed that same sentiment later on in his interview with Parry Punch, suggesting the two could headline the promotion’s return to Kansas City on April 26.

Unfortunately for Buckley, Usman doesn’t sound too interested in fighting the rising contender. At least, not yet.

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Joaquin Buckley Calls Out Kamaru Usman for April Clash in Kansas City: “Let Me Get a Former Champ.”

Joaquin Buckley Calls Out Kamaru Usman for April Clash in Kansas City: "Let Me Get a Former Champ."After earning the biggest win of his career in December, Joaquin Buckley has his sights set on a former…

Joaquin Buckley Calls Out Kamaru Usman for April Clash in Kansas City: "Let Me Get a Former Champ."

After earning the biggest win of his career in December, Joaquin Buckley has his sights set on a former world champion.

‘New Mansa’ extended his unbeaten streak to six with a dominant doctor’s stoppage TKO against Colby Covington at UFC Tampa.

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Now, Buckley is lobbying for a fight with the man who beat ‘Chaos’ twice inside the Octagon — former UFC welterweight titleholder Kamaru Usman. During a recent interview with Parry Punch, Buckley called for a clash with Usman, suggesting the two could headline the UFC’s return to Kansas City on April 26.

“I would like a former champion on my resume and would be Kamaru be it, right? Got Colby, right? Interim champ,” Buckley said. “But I’m like, let me get a former champ too. And somebody that was decorated to the point where they thought he was gonna be the welterweight GOAT at some point in his career. Let me go ahead, get him up out of there, get busy with him, and then go get my belt, right?

“Because I feel like it’s the names, right? Kamaru Usman just saw that, and he knows he’s next. We headline anyway.
I heard something special is going on in Kansas.”

Thus far, six fights have been announced for the Fight Night card in the Heart of America, but no main event.

Is joaquin buckley in consideration for kamaru usman’s return opponent?

While Buckley has been busy working his way up the contender’s ladder, the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ has been sitting on the sidelines after suffering his third-straight loss against Khamzat Chimaev in October 2023.

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The majority decision defeat against ‘Borz’ came after Usman had already fallen twice against ex-champ Leon Edwards—dropping his 170-pound crown to ‘Rocky’ before failing to reclaim it in a rematch the following year.

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Despite his inactivity, Usman has remained adamant about returning to the Octagon before calling it a career. Previously, he’s floated the idea of fighting names like Ian Machado Garry, Jack Della Maddalena, and, of course, reigning welterweight king Belal Muhammad. However, the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ did leave the door open for a potential move to middleweight, if the fight is right.

“It’s an interesting spot. I’ve never been in a spot like this… For me, I made my career being a welterweight…. But, for the right fight, middleweight makes sense,” Usman said on the Anik & Florian podcast last summer.

Colby Covington Opens Up About Chael Sonnen’s Near Towel Throw At UFC Tampa

Colby Covington fully acknowledges the gravity of Chael Sonnen’s revelation that he was moments away from throwing in the towel during UFC Tampa. Earlier this month, Covington stepped into the Octagon against Joaquin Buckley in the main event of the final UFC Fight Night of 2024. From the opening bell to the fight’s dramatic conclusion, […]

Colby Covington fully acknowledges the gravity of Chael Sonnen’s revelation that he was moments away from throwing in the towel during UFC Tampa.

Earlier this month, Covington stepped into the Octagon against Joaquin Buckley in the main event of the final UFC Fight Night of 2024. From the opening bell to the fight’s dramatic conclusion, “Chaos” found himself overwhelmed by Buckley’s relentless onslaught, resulting in a TKO (doctor stoppage) defeat.

“New Mansa” unleashed brutal combinations that left Covington struggling to keep up. A vicious uppercut in the first round opened a deep gash above the former UFC interim welterweight champion’s eye, causing a torrent of blood that worsened with every subsequent strike.

By the third round, referee Dan Miragliotta was compelled to halt the action, calling the Octagon-side doctor to assess the gruesome gash above Covington’s eye. After a brief evaluation, the doctor advised Miragliotta to stop the fight, deeming the injury too severe to continue.

After the fight, Sonnen, who served as Covington’s cornerman, shared on his YouTube channel that, in light of the injury’s nature, he was prepared to throw in the towel himself — if the doctor or referee didn’t take action first.

During a recent Twitch stream, “Chaos” reflected on Sonnen’s decision and expressed that he harbors no ill will toward his mentor. The 36-year-old Californian admitted that, while the moment was tough to swallow, he recognizes it as a well-judged call given the circumstances, no matter how challenging it may have been.

“Chael cares about me. He’s a real one,” Covington said. “If he was throwing it in, it’s because he knows that I couldn’t see. He knows that where the cut was at, it was bleeding into my right eye and I couldn’t see. I was seeing three of four different people.

“He knew that I couldn’t see. So if he’s going to do it, it’s because he cares about me and he knows that I couldn’t see and that was going to be tough to overcome. I thought I was coming on stronger, and I feel like they were going to have to throw in the towel for Buckley by the end of round five. So it sucks, it’s unfortunate.”

Covington is currently navigating the most difficult stretch of his career, having posted a 2-4 record in his last six UFC bouts, which includes three defeats in high-stakes title fights.

Colby Covington Motivated To ‘Prove People Wrong’ After ‘Cheat Job’ vs. Joaquin Buckley

Former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington insists he is far from finished. Covington’s hopes of a fourth crack at securing the undisputed crown at 170 pounds suffered a big blow this past weekend in Tampa, where he headlined the year-ending UFC Fight Night at Amalie Arena opposite Joaquin Buckley. The charging “New Mansa” entered […]

Former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington insists he is far from finished.

Covington’s hopes of a fourth crack at securing the undisputed crown at 170 pounds suffered a big blow this past weekend in Tampa, where he headlined the year-ending UFC Fight Night at Amalie Arena opposite Joaquin Buckley.

The charging “New Mansa” entered the contest riding momentum from three straight wins earlier in the year, and he remained unbeaten at welterweight at Covington’s expense on Dec. 14.

After dominating through two rounds, Buckley had his hand raised in the third frame when a cut above Covington’s right eye was deemed too severe for him to continue. “Chaos” unsurprisingly used the doctor’s stoppage as a means to peddle his usual excuses post-fight.

And that continued during a recent Twitch stream, during which the 36-year-old dismissed any suggestions that he is done in the sport and expressed excitement at the possibility of proving his detractors wrong in 2025.

“I’m motivated, man. I want to prove people wrong,” Covington said. “Dude, that was a bullsh*t stoppage, let’s be honest. I was still in the fight. I was getting takedowns. He was getting slower. None of his punches did any significant damage. … I feel like there was an eye poke or something…an inadvertent one. I couldn’t see, I was out of one eye.

“I’m a warrior. That’s what I signed up for. I love this sh*t. Let me go out on my shield though,” Covington continued. “It was a bullsh*t stoppage. Fake stoppage. Another f*cking cheat job.”

With the result last Saturday, “Chaos” is now 2-4 across his last six fights and 0-4 against those currently ranked inside the welterweight top 15.

Colby Covington Motivated To ‘Prove People Wrong’ After ‘Cheat Job’ vs. Joaquin Buckley

Former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington insists he is far from finished. Covington’s hopes of a fourth crack at securing the undisputed crown at 170 pounds suffered a big blow this past weekend in Tampa, where he headlined the year-ending UFC Fight Night at Amalie Arena opposite Joaquin Buckley. The charging “New Mansa” entered […]

Former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington insists he is far from finished.

Covington’s hopes of a fourth crack at securing the undisputed crown at 170 pounds suffered a big blow this past weekend in Tampa, where he headlined the year-ending UFC Fight Night at Amalie Arena opposite Joaquin Buckley.

The charging “New Mansa” entered the contest riding momentum from three straight wins earlier in the year, and he remained unbeaten at welterweight at Covington’s expense on Dec. 14.

After dominating through two rounds, Buckley had his hand raised in the third frame when a cut above Covington’s right eye was deemed too severe for him to continue. “Chaos” unsurprisingly used the doctor’s stoppage as a means to peddle his usual excuses post-fight.

And that continued during a recent Twitch stream, during which the 36-year-old dismissed any suggestions that he is done in the sport and expressed excitement at the possibility of proving his detractors wrong in 2025.

“I’m motivated, man. I want to prove people wrong,” Covington said. “Dude, that was a bullsh*t stoppage, let’s be honest. I was still in the fight. I was getting takedowns. He was getting slower. None of his punches did any significant damage. … I feel like there was an eye poke or something…an inadvertent one. I couldn’t see, I was out of one eye.

“I’m a warrior. That’s what I signed up for. I love this sh*t. Let me go out on my shield though,” Covington continued. “It was a bullsh*t stoppage. Fake stoppage. Another f*cking cheat job.”

With the result last Saturday, “Chaos” is now 2-4 across his last six fights and 0-4 against those currently ranked inside the welterweight top 15.

Colby Covington: The Doctor Beat Me At UFC Tampa, Not Joaquin Buckley

Colby Covington does not believe that he was beaten by the better man in the main event of the final UFC event of 2024 this past weekend. The former interim welterweight champion stepped in on several weeks notice to take on Joaquin Buckley at the Amalie Arena after Ian Machado Garry was moved into the […]

Colby Covington does not believe that he was beaten by the better man in the main event of the final UFC event of 2024 this past weekend. The former interim welterweight champion stepped in on several weeks notice to take on Joaquin Buckley at the Amalie Arena after Ian Machado Garry was moved into the co-main event of UFC 310.

The fight ended in the third round after the doctor waved the fight off due to a cut above the right eye of Covington. “New Mansa” appeared to open up the cut with an uppercut early on in the fight which continued to get worse as Buckley dominated the contest.

In between rounds, the doctor had even warned Covington ahead of time that if he didn’t do a better job or protecting the eye, she would be forced to stop the fight, claiming that he would lose the eyelid if he continued past the third round. The cut was significant but we have certainly seen fights continue with worse injuries and that sentiment was echoed by both Dana White and “Chaos” himself.

Covington spoke in a behind the scenes video posted on his YouTube channel about the outcome of the fight and how badly he was impacted by the cut. Despite this, he still believes that it shouldn’t have been stopped and that in his opinion, the fight was starting to turn in his favor. At the time of the stoppage, all three judges had Buckley winning both of the first two rounds.

“We came in close contact, and I felt like there was a headbutt, and as soon as it cut in the first round, I couldn’t see,” Covington said. “I had blurred vision, I was seeing three different people, I was like, ‘F**k, which one do I punch?’ I didn’t know what to do. I was kind of confused, but I knew I had to keep fighting. I had to give the UFC and the fans a show. That’s what they pay their hard-earned money to come for and I’m a warrior. We’re gladiators. I’m not going to stop.

“I’ve had way worse in fights than a little cut over my eye, so it’s unfortunate that the doctor stopped the fight like that because if we’re in Vegas, I know the fight gets to keep going. I feel like I was really just starting to gain momentum. Like I was starting to wear him out, I could see him breathing out of his mouth. There wasn’t as much volume at that point, so I feel like it was going to be my fight in the championship rounds, so it was an unfortunate stop and I feel like the doctor is the one that beat me tonight. I didn’t feel like I lost to another opponent.”