The UFC wrapped up its final PPV of 2024 last weekend, and this weekend, fans witnessed the last Fight Night event of the year. UFC Tampa hosted the event, delivering top-notch action across the entire fight card. However, the main event stood out as Joaquin Buckley inflicted significant damage on Colby Covington, securing a victory via doctor stoppage. Both fighters also walked away with a solid purse for their efforts.
Joaquin Buckley defeated Colby Covington by TKO (doctor’s stoppage) at 4:42 of Round 3. When it comes to their salaries, SportySalaries reported that Buckley earned a fixed purse of $350,000, with his total earnings potentially reaching $500,000. Covington, meanwhile, reportedly secured $400,000 for his appearance at UFC on ESPN 63.
In his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping, the ‘NewMansa’ let fans pick his next opponent, mentioning names like Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad. While the crowd responded positively, they cheered even louder at the mention of Kamaru Usman. However, Buckley may not get that wish, as Usman is likely to face Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 312 in Sydney this February.
Colby Covington fall off is 10000x worse then Tony Ferguson
— Degenerate (@GoatVital) December 15, 2024
Joaquin Buckley Vs. Colby Covington: Round By Round
Buckley started aggressively, pushing Covington toward the cage and showing his superior power. Covington, however, looked comfortable on his feet and landed some looping shots while attempting a level change that Buckley defended with ease. A cut opened on Covington’s right eye as Buckley continued to press forward. Buckley dropped Covington with a clean right hand late in the round, but the bell saved him.
In Round 2, Covington attempted takedowns but struggled to hold Buckley down, who responded with sharp strikes and relentless pressure. Covington seemed to run out of answers as the fight wore on. In Round 3, Buckley stunned Covington with a stiff jab and unleashed a flurry of heavy shots, battering his opponent’s face.
A scramble saw Buckley mount Covington before landing a knee to the head on the feet. The referee paused the fight for the doctor to check Covington’s worsening cut, leading to a stoppage. Buckley’s dominant victory—his sixth consecutive win—cements his rise in the division, moving him closer to title contention and leaving fans excited for what’s next as Dana White teased big fights for 2025.
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Also Read: Colby Covington Says He Can’t Respect Kamaru Usman For Being A Cheater
