Joaquin Buckley delivered on his promise to put on a spectacular performance at UFC Tampa, held on December 14, 2024, at the Amalie Arena. Buckley faced off against the notoriously controversial Colby Covington and crafted what could be considered the defining victory of his career by achieving a technical knockout due to medical stoppage at the end of the third round.
From the outset, Buckley imposed his will on the match, employing powerful jabs and kicks to assert dominance. Covington, who is known for his strong wrestling background, struggled to adapt to Buckley’s aggressive stand-up game. According to commentators, “Joaquin Buckley mostrou estar em grande forma no confronto contra Colby Covington. Desde o início, ele conectou os golpes mais potentes e mostrou uma ótima defesa de quedas.” This statement rang true as Buckley consistently kept Covington at bay with his superior technical skills.
While Covington attempted to secure takedowns, Buckley’s defense held strong. The fight saw both fighters exchanging strikes, but it quickly became evident how much Buckley was controlling the pace. At one point, Buckley landed several clean shots, causing visible damage to Covington. A particularly forceful right hand opened up a deep cut near Covington’s right eye, leading to bloody consequences throughout the match. Throughout his career, Buckley has developed a reputation for his explosive nature, which was on full display during this fight.
The first round concluded with Buckley landing another significant blow, which prompted Covington to regroup as he faced adversity. Commentators noted, “A luta começou com Buckley agressivo, indo para cima e impondo ritmo para deixar Covington sem margem de quedas e encurralado junto à grade.” This was evident as Buckley maintained his offensive presence.
By the second round, Covington showed some signs of resilience and managed to secure his first takedown of the night. Despite this, he failed to capitalize on the situation as Buckley quickly returned to his feet, dominating the remainder of the round with rapid-fire strikes. Buckley’s fight IQ shone through as he expertly defended Covington’s wrestling efforts, keeping him at arm's length and punishing him whenever he tried to get too close.
Entering the third round, Buckley was relentless. His attacks continued to wear down Covington, who was showing clear signs of wear from the punishment he had absorbed. Covington’s right eye was cut, and the blood flow from the wound became increasingly evident. Buckley remained confident, applying pressure, landing body shots, and accurately placed head strikes,” said UFC commentators at the time.
With just under two minutes remaining in the fight, the situation reached its breaking point. The ringside physician was brought in to assess Covington’s eye, which had been bloodied badly from Buckley’s strikes. Following the medical evaluation, it was deemed unsafe for Covington to continue, leading to the referee signaling the fight's abrupt end. This ruling awarded Buckley his sixth straight victory, eleviating his status within the welterweight division and solidifying his place among the top contenders.
After the victory, Buckley made no secret of his ambitions. He called out top contenders Belal Muhammad, Leon Edwards, and Kamaru Usman for future matchups, none of whom he has faced yet. Buckley’s ambition only emphasizes his rapid ascent within the organization and the alluring nature of his fighting style, causing excitement within the fan community.
On the contrary, the loss marked another setback for Covington, bringing his recent record to one win out of his last four fights, and raising questions about what his next steps will be. What is undisputed, though, is the fierce competition present among the welterweights, where both new talents like Buckley and veterans like Covington vie fiercely for ranking and title shots.
UFC Tampa featured other thrilling bouts as well. Cub Swanson earned his victory by knocking out Billy Quarantillo, and Manel Kape secured his win over Bruno 'Bulldog' Silva, both within the third round. Dustin Jacoby also had his moment, defeating Vitor Petrino, adding to the evening's excitement.
Results from UFC Tampa revealed the depth of talent competing within the organization, concluding 2024 on high notes for some and leaving others with much to ponder as the season concluded. While Joaquin Buckley celebrated his win and looked toward the future, the world of MMA awaited what the next year would hold for its fighters.
