UFC Tampa begin time, full battle card particulars | Covington vs. Buckley

ARE YOU READY?!?!

Final Combating Championship (UFC) will tie a ribbon round 2024 with its closing occasion of the yr, as UFC Tampa goes down later TONIGHT (Sat., Dec. 14, 2024) inside Amalie Enviornment in Tampa, Florida. Headlining the ESPN+-streamed occasion is Welterweight showdown between former interim champion, Colby Covington, and knockout artist, Joaquin Buckley. Within the re-worked co-main occasion, Cub Swanson will battle Billy Quarantillo in a enjoyable 145-pound showdown.

What’s Scorching:

It’s protected to say Covington has misplaced his fastball. It’s thanks largely as a result of he has been very quiet over the previous few months, even after his boy, Donald Trump, gained the presidential election. We’ve grown accustomed to seeing “Chaos” insert himself wherever he has the prospect to, however he hasn’t been as vocal as he was earlier on in his profession, a tactic that helped him steal the highlight (possibly he forgot who he was). Additionally, he hasn’t competed in a couple of yr, together with his final look coming in opposition to former 170-pound champion, Leon Edwards, in Dec. 2023. And, let’s not overlook that he’s simply 2-3 in his final 5 fights in order that might be a superb cause he isn’t the identical Covington of outdated. That mentioned, he introduced a few of that again throughout battle week. He may have an opportunity to say himself again into the combination with a win in Tampa as a result of he’s nonetheless ranked No. 6 and a victory right here might put him again into the Prime 5.

Buckley, in the meantime, has actually come into his personal over the previous few years, racking up 5 straight wins within the final 18 months after struggling back-to-back losses to Chris Curtis and Nassourdine Imavov. Throughout his latest successful run, he knocked out Stephen Thompson, Vicente Luque and Andre Fialho. At the moment holding down the No. 9 spot, he, too, is trying to crash the Prime 5. And a win over a former champion might be the ticket to get him there. Covington clearly has the wrestling benefit, and he isn’t a spring rooster in the case of the placing division. That mentioned, Buckley has main energy in each of his arms — and ft — and he can flip anybody’s mild’s out in the event that they select to go toe-to-toe with him. A weapon Covington has to his benefit, nevertheless, is his tempo and cardio, which is notorious for tiring out his opponents. Meaning Buckley should get to work early and actually because as soon as it goes to the championship rounds, Covington has the benefit. This ought to be an ideal stylistic matchup.

What’s Not:

Once more, placement on battle playing cards appears to be a factor of the previous — for probably the most half — however I’ve a problem with a Light-weight bout between Drakkar Klose vs. Joel Alvarez not getting a spot on the principle card over newcomer Navajo Stirling vs. Tuco Tokkos. Alvarez is 6-1 in his final seven fights, whereas Klose is on a four-fight win streak and is 7-1 in his final eight. This battle belongs on the principle card over a beginner and a person coming of a loss in his UFC debut, plain and easy.

Unique Card Vs. Precise Card:

Buckley was initially slated to face Ian Garry within the headliner earlier than UFC officers yanked the Irish expertise from the occasion to face Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310. The co-main occasion was initially set to characteristic a rematch between Amanda Ribas vs. Mackenzie Dern earlier than it was moved to headline UFC Vegas 101 on Sat., Jan 11, 2025, from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Accidents:

A Bantamweight bout between Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Music Yadong was initially reported to headline the occasion earlier than Yadong bowed out of the occasion with an undisclosed harm. It labored out higher for Nurmagomedov as a result of he’ll now have the prospect to battle for the division title in opposition to champion Merab Dvalishvili in early 2025. Tracy Cortez was pressured out of the occasion due to an undisclosed well being challenge, and he or she was changed by Jamey-Lyn Horth in opposition to Miranda Maverick, who’s 5-1 in her final six fights. As for Horth, the previous Legacy Combating Alliance (LFA) champion is coming off a cut up determination win over Ivana Petrovic. Additionally, a 135-pound bout between Mentioned Nurmagomedov vs. Daniel Marcos was scrapped after Nurmagomedov withdrew for unknown causes and was changed by Adrian Yanez, who’s coming off a primary spherical knockout win over Vinicius Salvador. Previous to that, he was on a two-fight dropping streak. As for Marcos, he’s undefeated (16-0), which incorporates going 3-0-1 contained in the Octagon.

New Blood:

Stirling would be the lone newcomer at this occasion, because the undefeated (5-0) Gentle Heavyweight will make his debut in opposition to Tokkos. Stirling earned his spot on the roster because of a primary spherical knockout win on Contender Sequence, which was his fourth straight stoppage win. As for Tokkos, he fell flat in his personal UFC debut, dropping to Oumar Sy through first spherical submission earlier this yr.

How The ‘Prelims’ Look:

After beginning off his profession excellent (13-0), Ottman Azaitar has misplaced his final two fights, and can now try to get again on monitor when he battles long-time veteran, Michael Johnson, who’s coming off a unanimous determination win over Darrius Flowers.

Sean Woodson has very quietly gone 6-1-1 contained in the Octagon within the 5 years he’s been preventing for the promotion. His opponent, Fernando Padilla, is 4-1-1 in his final six, 2-1 below UFC’s banner. Each males are out to get an enormous win to try to carve an area out for themselves within the crowded Featherweight division.

Winner of 12 straight fights, Felipe Silva will look to make it two-for-two contained in the Octagon when he takes on Miles Johns in a 145-pound showdown. Silva made his profitable UFC debut earlier this yr, and now “Jungle Boy” appears to be like to maintain his momentum going in opposition to “Chapo,” who’s a decent 5-2-1 within the 5 years he has been with the promotion.

Davey Grant had his two-fight win streak snapped in his earlier battle by the hands of Daniel Marcos earlier this yr, dropping a razor-thin cut up determination. Ramon Taveras, in the meantime, is off to high quality begin in his UFC journey, successful his debut battle in opposition to Serhiy Sidey through cut up determination. The Contender Sequence product has now gained six of his final seven fights.

Kicking off tonight’s motion can be Josefine Knutsson going through off in opposition to Piera Rodriguez in a ladies’s Strawweight battle. Knuttsson has an immaculate document of 8-0, 2-0 UFC. As for Rodriguez, she is trying to snap her two-fight dropping streak.

Who Wants A Win Badly:

Dustin Jacoby is at present driving a two-fight dropping streak coming into his 205-pound matchup in opposition to Vitor Petrino. Going again a bit additional, Jacoby has misplaced 4 of his final 5 fights contained in the Octagon, placing him in a must-win scenario in Tampa. As for Petrino, regardless that he’s coming off a loss to Anthony Smith, he has extra respiratory room as a result of that was the primary defeat of his profession.

Curiosity Degree: 6/10

Swanson has alternated wins and losses during the last 4 years, which has been adequate for the promotion to maintain the 13-year veteran round. He possible won’t ever be in title competition at this level in his profession, however he nonetheless desires to show he has loads left within the tank. Quarantillo, like Swanson, has additionally been alternating wins and losses to the tune of a 3-4 document since 2020.

After kicking off his UFC profession with two straight defeats, Manel Kape went on to win 4 in a row earlier than having his momentum stopped by Muhammad Mokaev this previous summer time. “Starboy” will try to get again on the appropriate foot when he goes toe-to-toe in opposition to Bruno Silva, who’s at present on a four-fight win streak, which he’s racked up within the span of almost 4 years.

Adrian Yanez lastly snapped his funk and acquired again into the win column with an enormous win over Vinicius Salvador, knocking him out within the very first spherical this previous summer time. Daniel Marcos, alternatively, is ideal thus far in his MMA profession (16-0), together with going 3-0-1 below UFC’s banner. “Soncora” — who’s preventing out of Peru — isn’t about to let up now as a result of just a few extra massive wins and he can actually begin to make a reputation for himself.

Benefit from the fights!

Full UFC Tampa Struggle Card:

UFC Tampa Foremost Occasion On ESPN2/ESPN+:

170 lbs.: Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley

UFC Tampa Foremost Card on ESPN2/ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET):

115 lbs.: Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas — (now UFC Vegas 101’s essential occasion)145 lbs.: Cub Swanson vs. Billy Quarantillo125 lbs.: Manel Kape vs. Bruno Silva205 lbs.: Vitor Petrino vs. Dustin Jacoby135 lbs.: Adrian Yanez vs. Daniel Marcos205 lbs.: Navajo Stirling vs. Tuco Tokkos

UFC Tampa ‘Prelims’ Card on ESPN2/ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET):

155 lbs.: Michael Johnson vs. Ottman Azaitar155 lbs.: Joel Alvarez vs. Drakkar Klose145 lbs.: Sean Woodson vs. Fernando Padilla145 lbs.: Miles Johns vs. Felipe Silva125 lbs.: Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Miranda Maverick135 lbs.: Davey Grant vs. Ramon Taveras115 lbs.: Josefine Knutsson vs. Piera Rodriguez

*Struggle card, bout order and quantity of fights stay topic to alter.*

Do not forget that MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of the complete UFC Tampa battle card proper right here, beginning with the ESPN2/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches on-line, that are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET, earlier than the principle card begin time at 10 p.m. ET (additionally on ESPN2/ESPN+).

To take a look at the most recent and best UFC Tampa: “Covington vs. Buckley” information and notes you’ll want to hit up our complete occasion archive proper right here.