Joaquin ‘New Mansa’ Buckley put on a career-best performance last night, with his main event showdown against Colby Covington ending in a bloody doctor’s stoppage late during the third round at UFC Tampa. The St. Louis standout must have been running late for post-fight plans, dipping from the post-fight press conference after just 60 seconds—more than enough time to convey his triumph.
“My first main event was a big success; I feel like the whole card was very successful,” stated Buckley at the UFC Tampa post-fight conference. The event saw seven of the 13 bouts conclude via KO/TKO, underscoring the explosive nature of the night.
Buckley, now the #9 ranked welterweight, demonstrated his dominance over the #6 former interim champion Covington, who left the Octagon with his face drenched in blood and bearing the evidence of Buckley’s ferocity. “I feel like my fight, you know, shouldn’t have been stopped, but you know, it is what it is…You’ve got to protect the fighters,” said Buckley, reflecting on the abrupt end to what had been his ascendancy.
Entering the bout, Buckley was determined to cement his place as a title contender. Following his victory, he stated, “I feel like 2025 is definitely [going to be] my year, and we’re definitely taking over…with this being said, [I’m on] a six-fight winning streak, I’ve got eight knockouts in the UFC, and I feel like I’ve done enough to put myself back in the title conversation.”
Many fans are now eager to see who Buckley will face next, with names like Belal Muhammad and Shavkat Rakhmonov being thrown around as potential contenders. Buckley expressed resolution, stating, “Even though I know Shavkat is next, I’m blessed for the opportunity, but if anything happens where either Shavkat or Belal doesn’t step up, I’m willing to face them.”
During the bout, Buckley’s dominance was apparent. He landed significant strikes early, launching Covington down with a right hand at the end of Round 1 and remaining aggressive throughout the fight. While Covington managed to secure one takedown out of eight attempts, he struggled to make it count, facing continuous resistance from Buckley’s powerful stand-up game.
“I know you wanted to see a knockout, man,” Buckley remarked humorously after the fight, signaling his acknowledgment of the audience's expectations. Indeed, the grappling prowess and tenacity Covington is known for were merely shadows of their peak during this match.
UFC CEO Dana White was present and supported Buckley’s comments. He offered his perspective on the doctor’s stoppage, noting, “I was curious to see how it would go if it had gone five rounds. No doubt it was a bad cut, but I think the fight doesn’t get stopped in Vegas—100%.” While the stoppage issued was mainly precautionary, White highlighted Buckley’s performance as impressive, respecting him for overcoming such a challenging foe.
Meanwhile, Covington now stands at a crossroads following this latest setback. Having accepted this fight on short notice, he introduced himself with former wrestling legends to the audience—Hulk Hogan and Chael Sonnen—but it seems like the showmanship might not be enough to reverse his fortunes at this point.
That night at the Amalie Arena was certainly memorable, with Buckley illustrating the skills and ferocity needed to rise to the top of the welterweight division. With 2025 on the horizon, he eagerly awaits new challengers.
“At the end of the day, we’re going to keep this nice and short, bro; I’m definitely looking to take the throne. 2025, bro—we out, thank you,” Buckley concluded, leaving the audience electrified and eager for his next move.
The stage is set for what should be another exciting year for the UFC, as new contenders like Buckley push for their rightful place at the top.
