Main Event Spotlight | UFC Tampa

Take A Closer Look At The Two Welterweights Set To Throw Down In The Final Fight of 2024

10 December 2024

To say things have been a bit chaotic in the welterweight division lately would be an understatement. Things were all lined up to have the welterweights on top at the end of the year with champion Belal Muhammad taking on Shavkat Rakhmonov in the last pay-per-view of the year, followed up by Ian Machado Garry and Joaquin Buckley in the last Fight Night event. But that all changed when Muhammad got hurt, forcing him out of 310.

The new lineup included a five-round co-main event last weekend that saw Rakhmonov defeat Machado Garry by unanimous decision after 25 minutes. Now set to square off Saturday night in Tampa is yet another welterweight banger as former title challenger Colby Covington steps in to face “New Mansa”.

UFC TAMPA FULL FIGHTS: Buckley vs Thompson | Covington vs Masvidal

Let’s take a closer look at this 170-pound matchup.

Colby Covington

Colby Covington has been at the top of the welterweight division for the past few years, fighting the best of the best and competing for UFC gold. Back in 2018, “Chaos” defeated Rafael Dos Anjos to win the interim welterweight title but was later stripped of the title due to injury.

Since then, Covington has fought for the belt three times, against Kamaru Usman twice and once against Leon Edwards. The 36-year-old has a record of 12-4 in the Octagon, with an overall record of 17-4. He hasn’t competed since his loss to Edwards last December, and prior to that fight he has only fought once a year since 2020. Throughout his career, Covington has gone 16-1 in non-title matchups. Covington has made it clear that he still aspires to make it back to title contention.

Joaquin Buckley

After spending most of his career in the middleweight division, Buckley made the permanent move down to the welterweight division and it has paid off. Since returning to 170 pounds in May 2023, “New Mansa” has rattled off five straight wins, three coming by way of knockout.

He has cemented himself as a contender in this division, most recently knocking out veteran Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson just two months ago in Salt Lake. Buckley is known for his Performance of the Year knockout against Impa Kasanganay in Abu Dhabi back in 2020. It marked Buckley’s first post-fight bonus, and he has picked up four more since then.

Buckley’s strength mainly lies in his striking, as he has earned 14 of his 20 wins by knockout, and he makes it clear that he is always hunting for that knockout.

This is Buckley’s first main event and first fight that could potentially go all five rounds. Meanwhile, Covington is no stranger to the spotlight and spending all 25 minutes in the cage. “Chaos” has shown his durability in the Octagon as the fight moves into the later rounds, so it will be interesting to see how Buckley adjusts should the fight make it to the fourth or fifth round.

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