Joaquin Buckley claims that Colby Covington avoided training with him in the past due to feeling threatened, and now finds it ironic that Covington is stepping into the cage against him, suggesting that Covington had no choice but to accept this fight due to contractual obligations.
Joaquin Buckley couldn’t help but chuckle when he heard Colby Covington dismiss him like they were strangers. Turns out, Buckley had spent some time training at the same gym as Covington in Florida. He even offered to help Covington prepare for a UFC title fight. Sadly, they never got to train together, which told Buckley all he needed to know about Covington.
“Why you lying, Colby? Why you lying?” Buckley joked at UFC Tampa media day. “We’ve met before. This would be our third meeting if we face off.” Back when Buckley trained in Miami with MMA Masters, it was just before Covington’s fight with Kamaru Usman. Prior to meeting him, Buckley only knew Covington from his on-camera antics. But in person? Just a chill dude, saying ‘what’s up.’
Buckley even offered to help with the Usman fight, suggesting they get some rounds in. Covington seemed interested but it never happened. Why? Because he didn’t want to work, according to Buckley.
Buckley suspects that Covington saw him as a threat—a future welterweight contender who might best him before his biggest career fight. For Buckley, working with challenging partners is key to improvement, even if it means losing some rounds. He doesn’t see that same drive in Covington.
“Colby runs his own career and likes being comfortable,” Buckley explained. “I’m the opposite—I thrive on challenges and new partners.” That’s where Buckley feels Covington lost big fights: staying too comfortable.
With Covington stepping in on short notice after Ian Machado Garry was pulled for UFC 310, Buckley was surprised but thinks he knows why it’s happening. “Funny how he was scared to train with me but now steps into the cage,” Buckley mused.
Covington’s silence speaks volumes; Buckley believes he’s nervous about the matchup. “He wants to fight lighter guys—145-pounders like Paddy Pimblett or Dustin Poirier,” Buckley speculated, suggesting this could be Covington’s last contract fight.
However, Covington later revealed he’d signed a new multi-fight deal before his bout against Leon Edwards last December. Regardless, he enters the UFC Tampa main event with a mixed 3-3 record from his past six fights. His last win over an active fighter was Rafael dos Anjos back in 2018.
For Buckley, it seems more like the UFC gave Covington no choice but to accept this fight rather than stepping in heroically to save the main event. “I really feel like he had no choice,” said Buckley. “It’s either fight or retire.”