Colby Covington’s Unexpected Statement Following UFC Tampa

Former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington made his highly anticipated return to the octagon at UFC Tampa on December 14, 2024. Facing top-ranked welterweight Joaquin Buckley in the main event, the 36-year-old Covington suffered a setback when the ringside doctor stopped the fight in the third round due to a severe cut above his right eye.

Covington’s Perspective on the Fight

In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Covington expressed his frustration with the stoppage, revealing that he had taken the fight on short notice without a proper training camp.

He stated, “Not bad for no training camp. I thought it was 1-1 [going into the third round]. He was starting to fade. I could see he was breathing out of his mouth; I was hitting him with a lot of shots. It’s unfortunate they stopped it.”

Covington also mentioned that UFC President Dana White shared his sentiment, suggesting that the fight might not have been stopped under different circumstances.

He added, “Even Dana said, ‘If it was in Vegas, it would have never been stopped.’ I took his best shot, and it was nothing. It didn’t even faze me.”

Buckley’s Ascendancy in the Welterweight Division

Joaquin Buckley, with this victory, extended his winning streak to six consecutive fights in the welterweight division, improving his professional record to 21-6. His performance against Covington has propelled him further up the welterweight rankings, positioning him as a formidable contender for future high-profile matchups. ?

Co-Main Event Highlights

The co-main event featured UFC veteran Cub Swanson, who delivered an impressive performance by securing a knockout victory over Billy Quarantillo in the third round. Swanson’s win adds a significant highlight to his storied career and demonstrates his enduring competitiveness in the featherweight division.

Swedish Fighter’s Bout

Swedish strawweight Josefine Lindgren Knutsson also competed on the UFC Tampa card, facing Piera Rodriguez. Knutsson, in her third UFC appearance, fought valiantly but ultimately lost the bout via unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 30-27 in favor of Rodriguez.

Full UFC Tampa Results

Preliminary Card:

Josefine Knutsson vs. Piera Rodriguez – Rodriguez wins via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Davey Grant vs. Ramon Taveras – Grant wins via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Miranda Maverick vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth – Maverick wins via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Miles Johns vs. Felipe Lima – Lima wins via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Sean Woodson vs. Fernando Padilla – Woodson wins via TKO at 4:58 of Round 1
Joel Alvarez vs. Drakkar Klose – Alvarez wins via KO (flying knee) at 2:48 of Round 1
Ottman Azaitar vs. Michael Johnson – Johnson wins via KO (right hook) at 2:03 of Round 2

Main Card:

Navajo Stirling vs. Tuco Tokkos – Stirling wins via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Daniel Marcos vs. Adrian Yanez – Marcos wins via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
Dustin Jacoby vs. Vitor Petrino – Jacoby wins via KO (right hand) at 3:44 of Round 3
Manel Kape vs. Bruno Silva – Kape wins via TKO (strikes) at 1:57 of Round 3
Cub Swanson vs. Billy Quarantillo – Swanson wins via KO (right hand) at 1:36 of Round 3
Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley – Buckley wins via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) at 4:42 of Round 3

For more detailed coverage and analysis of UFC Tampa, visit MMAnytt.se

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