Tag: ufc tampa

Chael Sonnen Claims He Was Ready To Throw In The Towel While Cornering Colby Covington At UFC Tampa

If the doctor hadn’t have called off Colby Covington’s UFC Tampa main event this past weekend, cornerman Chael Sonnen was seemingly prepared to. Sonnen had a cageside view as the former interim welterweight champion returned to action 12 months on from his third failed attempt at capturing the undisputed crown. Covington made the walk to […]

If the doctor hadn’t have called off Colby Covington’s UFC Tampa main event this past weekend, cornerman Chael Sonnen was seemingly prepared to.

Sonnen had a cageside view as the former interim welterweight champion returned to action 12 months on from his third failed attempt at capturing the undisputed crown.

Covington made the walk to headline the year-ending UFC Fight Night on short notice, doing battle with the charging Joaquin Buckley inside Amalie Arena.

The polarizing veteran’s pursuit of a fourth shot at the gold began in difficult fashion, with “New Mansa” opening up a deep cut above his eye early before largely beating “Chaos” up through two rounds. And the first-round wound became so severe that the doctor stepped in to call off proceedings.

Both Dana White and Covington expressed disagreement with the call in the aftermath. One of those in the defeated fighter’s team, however, was apparently prepared to make the decision if the physician had not.

During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen reflected on fight night in Florida, where Covington fell to a 2-4 record across his last six bouts and 0-4 against names currently inside the rankings at 170 pounds.

Interestingly, “The American Gangster” suggested he had the towel close by to throw in after seeing Covington’s struggles to fight through the deep and bloody cut.

“Colby was getting hit on his feet with everything you could do, he’s busted open so bad that the doctor has to look at it three times,” Sonnen said (h/t Bloody Elbow). “Twice, he stops the action to let it keep going, the third time he goes, ‘Man we can’t keep going anymore.’ I was going to stop that fight, I already grabbed the towel.

“When the doctor came in for the third time, and I’m watching that blood, it’s not stopping,” Sonnen continued. “It’s going into the eye, and that’s the only thing you’re really looking for. When we as fight fans, as ‘tough guys’, think the doctor should’ve stopped it, we’re talking about it doesn’t matter how bad the cut is from our perspective, as long as it’s not going in the eye. If it’s blinding the guy, it doesn’t matter if it’s a little or a lot…it’s the exact same thing. I said, ‘Hand me that towel, I’m stopping this.’”

That ultimately wasn’t required, however, with the cageside doctor advising referee Dan Miragliotta to wave off the contest in fear of Covington losing his eyelid.

With that, “Chaos” has now gone winless across a second straight calendar year, having not had his hand raised since a pay-per-view main event opposite longtime rival Jorge Masvidal in March 2022.

Michael Johnson Outlines Retirement Timeline After UFC Tampa, Pitches Justin Gaethje Rematch

UFC lightweight veteran Michael Johnson showed he has plenty left in the tank in Tampa this past weekend, so much so that he’s targeting names toward the top of the division. Johnson was among the biggest winners to emerge victorious from Saturday’s year-ending UFC Fight Night at Amalie Arena. On a night that included a […]

UFC lightweight veteran Michael Johnson showed he has plenty left in the tank in Tampa this past weekend, so much so that he’s targeting names toward the top of the division.

Johnson was among the biggest winners to emerge victorious from Saturday’s year-ending UFC Fight Night at Amalie Arena.

On a night that included a host of knockouts, not many came more brutal than “The Menace’s” victory over Ottman Azaitar, who was rendered unconscious before eating some vicious follow-up shots on the ground.

The result has put Johnson back onto a win streak on MMA’s biggest stage, and despite nearing the 40 mark, he doesn’t plan on leaving life as an active fighter for a long time.

During his post-fight press conference backstage at Amalie Arena, Johnson reflected on his successful performance and looked ahead to his future.

On the topic of retirement, the 42-fight MMA veteran outlined a lengthy timeline for the remainder of his career.

“Five years (more, I want to fight),” Johnson said. “I always tell people I want to do eight to 10 more years and they look at me with this face. I’m not slowing down any time soon. As long as my body’s healthy and I can get through what I need to get through, I’m going to fight for as long as I can.

“I think Nate Diaz said it the best, and he’s turned into a good friend. He was an opponent of mine. We always keep in touch, but he made a comment that said, ‘Sh*t, I’ll fight till I’m 50. Just getting started.’ So that’s what it is. I’m just getting started,” Johnson continued. “This might be my peak. A lot of people peak at 25, 30 (years old). I might be one peaking at 38, 40.”

With that in mind, Johnson looks set to have plenty of time to tick off some of his remaining ambitions. And when it comes to advancing his late-career title aspirations and exacting revenge for a past result, “The Menace” has a perfect next opponent in mind.

“The Justin Gaethje fight – that’s the one that I want,” Johnson explained. “I think everybody would love a Gaethje-Johnson (rematch). I gave him that opportunity when he came over (from WSOF), when nobody else wanted to. So, I think he should go ahead and give that back. We need to run one ’cause I know he knows he got away with that one.”

Johnson welcomed Gaethje to the UFC back in 2017, a bout that came after the 38-year-old had battled Beneil Dariush, Nate Diaz, Dustin Poirier and Khabib Nurmagomedov in consecutive assignments. The promotional newcomer got his hand raised after finding the knockout late in round two of a fight that was widely seen as the year’s best.

Whether Gaethje and the UFC will reciprocate the interest in a rematch remains to be seen. “The Highlight” hasn’t competed since suffering a vicious last-second knockout at the hands of Max Holloway at UFC 300 this past April.

Regardless, be it the former interim champion or perhaps another name inside the top 15, it would appear that Johnson has earned the chance to climb back up the ladder in 2025 following a perfect 2-0 run this year.

Colby Covington Issues First Comments On Brutal UFC Tampa Setback: ‘I Came Off The Couch!’

UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington was up to his usual antics when addressing his defeat this past weekend for the first time. Saturday’s event in Tampa didn’t go to plan for the former interim champion, who returned on short notice to headline the year-ending UFC Fight Night at Amalie Arena. The bout came 12 months […]

UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington was up to his usual antics when addressing his defeat this past weekend for the first time.

Saturday’s event in Tampa didn’t go to plan for the former interim champion, who returned on short notice to headline the year-ending UFC Fight Night at Amalie Arena.

The bout came 12 months on from Covington’s third failed attempt at claiming the undisputed crown, and in order to return to winning ways, he was tasked with stalling the charge of Joaquin Buckley.

Instead, “New Mansa” continued to climb the ladder toward gold at the polarizing veteran’s expense, beating him up across two rounds before a cut he caused with an elbow in the first frame proved too deep for “Chaos” to continue.

While the ending was somewhat anticlimactic and saw Dana White suggest wouldn’t have happened had the fight been staged in Las Vegas, many believed the writing was already on the wall for Covington’s chances of victory.

Unsurprisingly, the “many” does not include the man himself…

During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Covington took fans behind the scenes before and after his headliner at Amalie Arena.

“Chaos” spoke to the camera post-fight, giving his first comments on a result that has left him 2-4 across his last six and 0-4 against names currently inside the welterweight top 15.

From the late-notice nature of the bout to the debated stoppage, “Chaos” had his usual litany of reasons to explain the loss ready.

“We’re gonna be back stronger than ever, this is just the beginning for me,” Covington said. “I wasn’t at my best tonight. I came off the couch but it was for the company, I did this for the company that I love so much that changed my life. … I know there’s still a lot of fight in me and the best is still yet to come.

“I was just getting warmed up in that fight, I think it was tied up 1-1 and I was starting to wear on him. I see him breathing out of his mouth, I was starting to catch him with more shots so it’s unfortunate that they stopped it,” Covington continued. “Even Dana (White) came out and said if that was in Vegas, it would’ve never been stopped. I took his hardest shots and they didn’t phase me at all. … We’ll come back stronger.”

It remains to be seen what the future holds for the 36-year-old, but he’s evidently not planning on hanging up his gloves — as some had advised following a defeat that leaves him firmly out of the championship conversation.

Buckley, meanwhile, looks set for even bigger things in 2025 after extending his perfect welterweight stint with a 4-0 run this year. Though he’s prepared to step in with gold on the line should Shavkat Rakhmonov fall out of his expected shot, “New Mansa” also set his sights on Kamaru Usman post-fight in Tampa.

Manel Kape Has Title Shot Pleas Rejected After Standout UFC Tampa Performance

UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape didn’t shy away from letting the brass know what he wants at Saturday’s event in Tampa. After having his title plans stalled by Muhammad Mokaev in Manchester this past July, Kape returned to action at the UFC’s final event of 2024, where he was tasked with defending his position on […]

UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape didn’t shy away from letting the brass know what he wants at Saturday’s event in Tampa.

After having his title plans stalled by Muhammad Mokaev in Manchester this past July, Kape returned to action at the UFC’s final event of 2024, where he was tasked with defending his position on the ladder against Bruno Silva.

“Starboy” bounced back in style, putting on a show with the kind of striking and confident showboating that attracted the MMA leader’s attention while he held gold under the Rizin banner.

And following two strong rounds, Kape closed the show with strikes in the final frame to cap off a near-flawless return to the win column.

In the aftermath, the Angola-born Portuguese fighter pleaded with Dana White cageside, making his case for the next shot at Alexandre Pantoja. That was a continuation of a conversation Kape also attempted to start in-between rounds.

Unfortunately for “Starboy,” he seemingly wasn’t persuasive enough.

During the post-fight press conference backstage at Amalie Arena, UFC CEO Dana White reflected on Kape’s perseverance when it came to pitching a rematch with champ Pantoja, whom he lost to in his promotional debut back in 2021.

White did not, however, have the answer the flyweight contender would have been hoping for.

“No, he’s not getting a title shot,” White said. “But we’ll definitely give him what he’s looking for.”

It’s unclear what White is referring to, given that Kape was looking for a shot at redemption opposite Pantoja with the flyweight gold on the line next year.

Regardless, it seems “Starboy” has some work to do if he’s to secure a first championship opportunity on MMA’s biggest stage and the chance to add UFC gold to his trophy cabinet in the sport.

Top MMA Coach Picks Joaquin Buckley As ‘Fighter Of The Year’ Over Alex Pereira & Ilia Topuria

Coach Eric Nicksick, for one, has been extremely impressed by UFC welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley’s efforts in 2024. Buckley closed out his year in style on Saturday night when he headlined the final event of 2024. Opposite him inside Tampa’s Amalie Arena was former interim champion Colby Covington, who planned on placing his name back […]

Coach Eric Nicksick, for one, has been extremely impressed by UFC welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley’s efforts in 2024.

Buckley closed out his year in style on Saturday night when he headlined the final event of 2024. Opposite him inside Tampa’s Amalie Arena was former interim champion Colby Covington, who planned on placing his name back into title contention a year on from a third failed bid for undisputed status.

“Chaos” didn’t succeed in that ambition, however, with Buckley dominating him in the opening two rounds before a deep cut sustained just above Covington’s right eye proved too bad for him to continue.

With the result, “New Mansa” has gone 4-0 this year, having previously knocked out Vicente Luque, outpointed Nursulton Ruziboev, and stopped Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.

And according to Nicksick, that’s elevated him not only into the “Fighter of the Year” discussion, but above both consensus leading candidates Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria.

“Real talk, @Newmansa94 (Buckley) resurrection needs to be studied,” Nicksick wrote on X. “6-0 in a new division w/ 4 stoppages, 4-0 in 2024. Ladies and Gentlemen, he’s your 2024 Fighter of the Year. I’m out”

Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight kingpin, has staked his claim with three title defenses in 2024. After knockouts of Jamahal Hill and Ji?í Procházka, “Poatan” most recently came from behind to batter Khalil Rountree in round four of their headline battle this past October.

Topuria, meanwhile, seemingly has the edge over the Brazilian in terms of competition level. Though he’s fought once less than Pereira, the Spaniard dethroned the highly regarded Alexander Volkanovski in brutal fashion before becoming the first man to knock out Max Holloway to retain the featherweight gold.

But taking into account his career revival since dropping to 170 pounds, Buckley appears to have the vote of one renowned trainer in the fight game.

Belal Muhammad Mocks Colby Covington After Dominant UFC Tampa Loss: ‘He Just Sucks’

UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad was among those roasting the polarizing Colby Covington after his latest defeat. Saturday proved to be a difficult night for Covington, as the former interim titleholder returned to action for the first time since a third failed bid at securing the undisputed crown against Leon Edwards last December. In his […]

UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad was among those roasting the polarizing Colby Covington after his latest defeat.

Saturday proved to be a difficult night for Covington, as the former interim titleholder returned to action for the first time since a third failed bid at securing the undisputed crown against Leon Edwards last December.

In his push to reinsert himself into the championship equation, “Chaos” accepted a short-notice UFC Fight Night headliner opposite the charging Joaquin Buckley in Tampa, looking to hand “New Mansa” his first loss since dropping to the division.

But the controversial veteran convincingly failed in that task, with Buckley putting a beating on him en route to a TKO via doctor’s stoppage in round three.

While a cut caused the bout’s end, there was little doubt over who was having the better of things. That, unsurprisingly, brought out Covington’s sizable group of enemies and detractors.

As expected, champ Muhammad was among those enjoying the result…

“(laughing) man I knows he’s gonna have a bunch of excuses but he just sucks,” Muhammad wrote on X.

Muhammad and Covington have frequently gone back and forth across recent years.

But with the former on the throne following his win over Edwards this past July and the latter far from challenging for it again post-UFC Tampa, it would appear that the chances of the pair settling their score inside the cage are now slim.