Joaquin Buckley Defeats Colby Covington via Doctor Stoppage at UFC Tampa

A severe cut above Covington's eye led to a third-round stoppage, raising questions about his future in MMA.

Joaquin Buckley secured a TKO victory over Colby Covington at UFC Tampa after a doctor stopped the fight due to a significant cut above Covington's right eye.
Covington, who took the fight on short notice, claimed he was just getting warmed up and criticized the stoppage, suggesting it might not have occurred in a different venue like Las Vegas.
MMA veterans, including Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping, expressed concerns about Covington's performance, citing his age, lack of preparation, and diminished training resources after leaving American Top Team.
The loss marks Covington's second consecutive defeat and drops him three spots in the UFC welterweight rankings, while Buckley climbs three spots to sixth place.
At 36 and with four losses in his last six fights, Covington faces mounting skepticism about his ability to remain competitive in the welterweight division.