Joaquin Buckley dominated Colby Covington in the UFC Tampa main event, winning by stoppage due to a severe cut over Covington’s eye, marking Buckley’s sixth consecutive welterweight victory and pushing him into title contention.
Joaquin Buckley didn’t get the finish he craved, but boy, did he deliver a dominant performance against Colby Covington at UFC Tampa. From start to finish, Buckley was in control, landing devastating combos that left Covington battered and bruised. An uppercut in the first round opened up a nasty cut above Covington’s eye, and it only got worse with each strike.
By the third round, things were looking grim for Covington. Referee Dan Miragliotta had to pause the fight so the doctor could assess the damage. “He’s going to lose his eyelid,” the ringside physician warned, leading Miragliotta to call off the fight at 4:42 in the third round.
It wasn’t quite the knockout Buckley wanted, but there was no doubt about his victory as the doctor stepped in to protect Covington from further harm. “I know ya’ll wanted to see a knockout. My bad,” Buckley apologized to the crowd.
Despite the abrupt ending, Buckley’s performance solidified his place among the elite at 170 pounds. He even invited fans to choose his next opponent. “Who do I want? My fans are going to pick,” he declared, listing Leon Edwards, Kamaru Usman, and Belal Muhammad as potential targets.
Buckley started strong, cracking Covington with powerful punches that kept him on his backfoot. His defense was on point too, shutting down takedown attempts while continuing his relentless assault.
Covington managed some offense in the second round with a takedown against the cage. But Buckley scrambled back up and resumed his attack with a quick double jab that deepened Covington’s cut.
Between rounds, Covington’s corner worked on his eye, but it was clear he couldn’t take much more. The restart saw Buckley continue his relentless punishment until Miragliotta halted the action for another doctor’s check.
The decision was swift—Miragliotta stopped the fight despite Covington’s protests. With this win, Buckley moves to 6-0 at welterweight and enters title contention. Meanwhile, Covington faces an uncertain future, having lost four of his last six fights at age 36.
In conclusion, Buckley’s victory was undeniable, even if it wasn’t flashy. His callout for fan input on his next opponent adds an interesting twist to his rising career trajectory.