A career-best performance from Joaquin Buckley, but a rather unceremonious ending to the final UFC fight of 2024; with referee Dan Miragliotta waving off the fight on the advice of the ringside doctor.
The decision to drop the main event of UFC Tampa received mixed reactions from fans and fighters alike; with Dana White even claiming that the fight wouldn't have been stopped if it had taken place somewhere else.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Dana White disagrees with the decision to stop Covington vs. Buckley
During the opening round of his main event showdown with Joaquin Buckley, former interim champion Colby Covington suffered a nasty cut on his right eye.
Unfortunately, the laceration spewed more and more blood over the next two rounds, with referee Dan Miragliotta stopping the bout late in the third round after doctors warned that Covington was at risk of losing his eyelid.
During the post-fight press conference, UFC CEO Dana White argued that while the injury was indeed a concern, the fight likely would have continued had they been back in Nevada.
“I was curious to see how it would have gone if it had gone five rounds. There's no doubt it was a bad cut, but that fight isn't being stopped in Vegas – that fight is 100% happening in Vegas.”
“Love him or hate him, the man is a dog, tough as nails, has taken big shots to the body, big shots to the head that would have knocked out a lot of people…Colby is durable and tough, but when If you get cut, anything can happen.”
There's an argument that Covington certainly didn't help matters with his constant pawing over the crack, which only served to undo the cut man's excellent work.
“It definitely bothered him, and literally as soon as the corner would fix it, he waits to walk back out and rips it open again, causing him to start bleeding again… That alone tells him he was bothered a lot.” of the cut. ”
While it would have been interesting to see how Covington would have fared in the championship rounds, many fans (including White) believe “Chaos” was about to end anyway.
“Listen, Colby is an older guy who fights every now and then, he's always durable and always strong… Did you hear the body shots he got hit with tonight, and the head shots he took?
“That stuff would have stopped other guys, Colby is tough, but I also feel like Colby wasn't too p***** to have that fight stopped by the cut.”
UFC fighters and fans have been busy sharing their reactions to the TKO stoppage, with many expressing the same sentiments as Dana White.
Asked a large cut in the eye
— CH🖕🏽TO🇪🇨VERA (@chitoveraUFC) December 15, 2024
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Chael is quiet because he realized that Colby really sucks
– Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) December 15, 2024
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With UFC Tampa in the books, Buckley improves his professional record to 21-6, while Covington drops to 17-5.
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