Joaquin Buckley earned widespread praise for his dominant UFC Tampa victory over Colby Covington, who faced significant criticism from the MMA community for his performance and excuses following the fight.
Joaquin Buckley earned heaps of praise after his commanding UFC Tampa victory. Meanwhile, Colby Covington wasn’t as fortunate in the eyes of the MMA community. Ouch.
In Saturday’s main event at Amalie Arena, Buckley showcased his prowess by overwhelming Covington for nearly the entire 15 minutes. A brutal cut over Covington’s right eye told the tale—nasty and bloody, it only worsened as the fight progressed.
Referee Dan Miragliotta halted the action in Round 3 to have the cut inspected. The ringside physician decided Covington couldn’t continue due to blood impairing his vision. Safety first, folks.
Belal Muhammad, a long-standing rival of Covington, had no sympathy. He tweeted, “Man, I know he’s gonna have a bunch of excuses but he just sucks.” No love lost there.
Check out more social media reactions below, where you’ll find further critiques of Covington and kudos for Buckley. It’s a mixed bag of opinions, as always.
Henry Cejudo chimed in with high hopes for Buckley, stating, “Buckley can be a champion in this sport. (6-0) as a welterweight. I am impressed.” High praise indeed!
Chase Hooper offered some corner advice: “If I were Colby’s corner, I’d be screaming at him to stop touching the cut.” Seems like Colby was his own worst enemy in that ring.
Ode’ Osbourne added his two cents, lauding Buckley’s performance: “What a performance. This is the best Buckley I’ve ever seen.” High accolades from his peers.
And so, the saga continues in the world of MMA. Fighters rise and fall; fans cheer and jeer. What’s next? Only time will tell.