Joaquin Buckley Defeats Colby Covington, Raising Questions About Covington’s UFC Future

Buckley’s dominant TKO victory over Covington at UFC Tampa highlights his rise in the welterweight division and casts doubt on Covington’s relevance as a contender.

Joaquin Buckley secured a third-round TKO victory over Colby Covington at UFC Tampa, extending his welterweight record to 6-0.
Buckley expressed interest in facing top contenders like Leon Edwards, Kamaru Usman, or champion Belal Muhammad, though a fight with Sean Brady seems more likely due to current rankings and schedules.
Colby Covington, now 2-6 in his last eight fights, faces increasing calls for retirement as his performance and relevance in the division continue to decline.
Covington’s controversial behavior and polarizing public persona have eroded his fan support, further diminishing his appeal as a UFC headliner.
UFC veteran Michael Johnson and flyweight contender Manel Kape also delivered standout performances in Tampa, with potential matchups against Jim Miller and Kai Kara-France, respectively, being discussed.