MMA News

Tag: UFC Tampa

  • Colby Covington: The Doctor Beat Me At UFC Tampa, Not Joaquin Buckley

    Colby Covington: The Doctor Beat Me At UFC Tampa, Not Joaquin Buckley

    Colby Covington does not believe that he was beaten by the better man in the main event of the final UFC event of 2024 this past weekend. The former interim welterweight champion stepped in on several weeks notice to take on Joaquin Buckley at the Amalie Arena after Ian Machado Garry was moved into the co-main event of UFC 310.

    The fight ended in the third round after the doctor waved the fight off due to a cut above the right eye of Covington. “New Mansa” appeared to open up the cut with an uppercut early on in the fight which continued to get worse as Buckley dominated the contest.

    In between rounds, the doctor had even warned Covington ahead of time that if he didn’t do a better job or protecting the eye, she would be forced to stop the fight, claiming that he would lose the eyelid if he continued past the third round. The cut was significant but we have certainly seen fights continue with worse injuries and that sentiment was echoed by both Dana White and “Chaos” himself.

    Covington spoke in a behind the scenes video posted on his YouTube channel about the outcome of the fight and how badly he was impacted by the cut. Despite this, he still believes that it shouldn’t have been stopped and that in his opinion, the fight was starting to turn in his favor. At the time of the stoppage, all three judges had Buckley winning both of the first two rounds.

    “We came in close contact, and I felt like there was a headbutt, and as soon as it cut in the first round, I couldn’t see,” Covington said. “I had blurred vision, I was seeing three different people, I was like, ‘F**k, which one do I punch?’ I didn’t know what to do. I was kind of confused, but I knew I had to keep fighting. I had to give the UFC and the fans a show. That’s what they pay their hard-earned money to come for and I’m a warrior. We’re gladiators. I’m not going to stop.

    “I’ve had way worse in fights than a little cut over my eye, so it’s unfortunate that the doctor stopped the fight like that because if we’re in Vegas, I know the fight gets to keep going. I feel like I was really just starting to gain momentum. Like I was starting to wear him out, I could see him breathing out of his mouth. There wasn’t as much volume at that point, so I feel like it was going to be my fight in the championship rounds, so it was an unfortunate stop and I feel like the doctor is the one that beat me tonight. I didn’t feel like I lost to another opponent.”

  • UFC Rankings Report: Colby Covington On The Brink Of Top 10 Exit After Tampa Defeat

    UFC Rankings Report: Colby Covington On The Brink Of Top 10 Exit After Tampa Defeat

    As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away.

    And in the aftermath of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Tampa, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

    Women’s Flyweight: Miranda Maverick didn’t perform as she had hoped on Saturday night, but she still got the job done over Jamey-Lyn Horth and has returned to the UFC rankings as a result. She’s now at #15, with her entry pushing out Casey O’Neill entirely.

    Women’s Bantamweight: No changes.

    Flyweight: Manel Kape was among the biggest winners to emerge from 2024’s final event, as he put on a show en route to stopping Bruno Silva with strikes in round three. “Starboy” has subsequently climbed three places to #6. The defeated Brazilian, meanwhile, has dropped one spot behind Charles Johnson (#12) to #13.

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: No changes.

    Lightweight: No changes.

    Welterweight: The final UFC winner of this year was Joaquin Buckley, who dominated former interim champion Colby Covington to stake his claim for a title eliminator next time out. The victory has seen “New Mansa” surge three places up the ladder to #6. “Chaos” has gone the same distance the other way, leaving him at #9 and on the brink of exiting the division’s top 10.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: No changes.

    Heavyweight: No changes.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • UFC Tampa Winner Confident Of His Chances Against Ilia Topuria: ‘Carries Himself Like He’s Better Than He Is’

    UFC Tampa Winner Confident Of His Chances Against Ilia Topuria: ‘Carries Himself Like He’s Better Than He Is’

    UFC featherweight Sean Woodson sees himself as a difficult matchup for champion Ilia Topuria.

    Woodson was one of the biggest winners to emerge from this past weekend’s year-ending UFC Fight Night in Tampa, where he stopped the highly touted Fernando Padilla with strikes seconds out from the first round coming to a close.

    The result has left “The Sniper” riding a four-fight win streak and unbeaten across his last seven — a run that has him tied with ranked standouts Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy for the longest active unbeaten streak in the featherweight division.

    With that in mind, Woodson is looking to join them in the top 15 soon enough as he looks to surge all the way to the gold, which is currently held by the undefeated Topuria.

    And should “El Matador” still be on the throne when he gets there, the Missouri native likes his chances.

    During his post-fight press conference, Woodson expressed confidence when it comes to how he matches up against the Spaniard.

    Given his height and frame, “The Sniper” insisted that he wouldn’t fall to the same fate against Topuria as both Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway did this year.

    “(Topuria’s) super good – what he’s done so far is,” Woodson said. “But I’m not going to hold my tongue at all. I don’t feel like he’d be able to do me the way he’s done other people at all. He’s too small, too short. I’m a bad matchup for him. I saw online somebody say he gets up to like 187 (pounds), 190 (outside of camp). I don’t believe that at all. I don’t even get that big. He carries himself like he’s better than he is.

    “I will say that I would love to fight him. I know I’m a long ways off from that, but I want that fight bad. I would love to fight him one day. I know it sounds crazy. I haven’t had the best (rĂ©sumĂ©). I ain’t fought (big names), whatever,” Woodson continued. “But I’m telling you right now, they do not do me like he’s done everybody.”

    Woodson has plenty of work to do before having the opportunity to prove that assessment correct opposite Topuria inside the Octagon.

    For now, he’ll be celebrating his latest triumph on MMA’s biggest stage and looking ahead to what he’ll no doubt hope will be a big 2025 in the career of “The Sniper.”

  • VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Reacts To Inclusion In Manel Kape’s UFC Tampa Octagon Interview

    VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Reacts To Inclusion In Manel Kape’s UFC Tampa Octagon Interview

    One of the stand out performances from the final UFC event of 2024 came courtesy of Manel “Starboy” Kape. The flyweight contender returned to the win column with one of his best performances inside the Octagon to date against Bruno Silva.

    Kape looked incredibly fast and accurate in Tampa and though he can still be a divisive character, displays like this make it easy to remember why some fans were so excited for him to arrive in the UFC. It doesn’t seem like this win will be enough for him to get his first shot at the title but he won’t be far off following this victory.

    Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was enjoying some food whilst watching the Portuguese stand out go to work during his YouTube reactions to the fights.

    Suddenly, out of nowhere, he heard his own name after Kape used his time on the mic to reignite an old feud. At UFC 293, Kape and Adesanya got into a heated exchange at the press conference due to the flyweight’s comments about one of Adesanya’s close teammates, Kai Kara-France.

    After getting his hand raised, Kape spent part of his post-fight interview calling out the likes of Kara-France, Adesanya and Brandon Moreno. Having just given “Starboy” lots of credit for his performance, “The Last Stylebender” was caught off guard but he did find the whole thing amusing rather than taking it to heart.

    “Why’d he say f*** me for? Man, I give this guy this credit like he’s looking nice and then he said ‘F*** you’. Hey, I still keep it real man, he f****** showed out. Hey man, this shows I been in his head this whole time, I didn’t even think it was like that but he did well, good job… little b**** a** n****.”

  • Chael Sonnen Claims He Was Ready To Throw In The Towel While Cornering Colby Covington At UFC Tampa

    Chael Sonnen Claims He Was Ready To Throw In The Towel While Cornering Colby Covington At UFC Tampa

    If the doctor hadn’t have called off Colby Covington’s UFC Tampa main event this past weekend, cornerman Chael Sonnen was seemingly prepared to.

    Sonnen had a cageside view as the former interim welterweight champion returned to action 12 months on from his third failed attempt at capturing the undisputed crown.

    Covington made the walk to headline the year-ending UFC Fight Night on short notice, doing battle with the charging Joaquin Buckley inside Amalie Arena.

    The polarizing veteran’s pursuit of a fourth shot at the gold began in difficult fashion, with “New Mansa” opening up a deep cut above his eye early before largely beating “Chaos” up through two rounds. And the first-round wound became so severe that the doctor stepped in to call off proceedings.

    Both Dana White and Covington expressed disagreement with the call in the aftermath. One of those in the defeated fighter’s team, however, was apparently prepared to make the decision if the physician had not.

    During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen reflected on fight night in Florida, where Covington fell to a 2-4 record across his last six bouts and 0-4 against names currently inside the rankings at 170 pounds.

    Interestingly, “The American Gangster” suggested he had the towel close by to throw in after seeing Covington’s struggles to fight through the deep and bloody cut.

    “Colby was getting hit on his feet with everything you could do, he’s busted open so bad that the doctor has to look at it three times,” Sonnen said (h/t Bloody Elbow). “Twice, he stops the action to let it keep going, the third time he goes, ‘Man we can’t keep going anymore.’ I was going to stop that fight, I already grabbed the towel.

    “When the doctor came in for the third time, and I’m watching that blood, it’s not stopping,” Sonnen continued. “It’s going into the eye, and that’s the only thing you’re really looking for. When we as fight fans, as ‘tough guys’, think the doctor should’ve stopped it, we’re talking about it doesn’t matter how bad the cut is from our perspective, as long as it’s not going in the eye. If it’s blinding the guy, it doesn’t matter if it’s a little or a lot
it’s the exact same thing. I said, ‘Hand me that towel, I’m stopping this.’”

    That ultimately wasn’t required, however, with the cageside doctor advising referee Dan Miragliotta to wave off the contest in fear of Covington losing his eyelid.

    With that, “Chaos” has now gone winless across a second straight calendar year, having not had his hand raised since a pay-per-view main event opposite longtime rival Jorge Masvidal in March 2022.

  • Michael Johnson Outlines Retirement Timeline After UFC Tampa, Pitches Justin Gaethje Rematch

    Michael Johnson Outlines Retirement Timeline After UFC Tampa, Pitches Justin Gaethje Rematch

    UFC lightweight veteran Michael Johnson showed he has plenty left in the tank in Tampa this past weekend, so much so that he’s targeting names toward the top of the division.

    Johnson was among the biggest winners to emerge victorious from Saturday’s year-ending UFC Fight Night at Amalie Arena.

    On a night that included a host of knockouts, not many came more brutal than “The Menace’s” victory over Ottman Azaitar, who was rendered unconscious before eating some vicious follow-up shots on the ground.

    The result has put Johnson back onto a win streak on MMA’s biggest stage, and despite nearing the 40 mark, he doesn’t plan on leaving life as an active fighter for a long time.

    During his post-fight press conference backstage at Amalie Arena, Johnson reflected on his successful performance and looked ahead to his future.

    On the topic of retirement, the 42-fight MMA veteran outlined a lengthy timeline for the remainder of his career.

    “Five years (more, I want to fight),” Johnson said. “I always tell people I want to do eight to 10 more years and they look at me with this face. I’m not slowing down any time soon. As long as my body’s healthy and I can get through what I need to get through, I’m going to fight for as long as I can.

    “I think Nate Diaz said it the best, and he’s turned into a good friend. He was an opponent of mine. We always keep in touch, but he made a comment that said, ‘Sh*t, I’ll fight till I’m 50. Just getting started.’ So that’s what it is. I’m just getting started,” Johnson continued. “This might be my peak. A lot of people peak at 25, 30 (years old). I might be one peaking at 38, 40.”

    With that in mind, Johnson looks set to have plenty of time to tick off some of his remaining ambitions. And when it comes to advancing his late-career title aspirations and exacting revenge for a past result, “The Menace” has a perfect next opponent in mind.

    “The Justin Gaethje fight – that’s the one that I want,” Johnson explained. “I think everybody would love a Gaethje-Johnson (rematch). I gave him that opportunity when he came over (from WSOF), when nobody else wanted to. So, I think he should go ahead and give that back. We need to run one ’cause I know he knows he got away with that one.”

    Johnson welcomed Gaethje to the UFC back in 2017, a bout that came after the 38-year-old had battled Beneil Dariush, Nate Diaz, Dustin Poirier and Khabib Nurmagomedov in consecutive assignments. The promotional newcomer got his hand raised after finding the knockout late in round two of a fight that was widely seen as the year’s best.

    Whether Gaethje and the UFC will reciprocate the interest in a rematch remains to be seen. “The Highlight” hasn’t competed since suffering a vicious last-second knockout at the hands of Max Holloway at UFC 300 this past April.

    Regardless, be it the former interim champion or perhaps another name inside the top 15, it would appear that Johnson has earned the chance to climb back up the ladder in 2025 following a perfect 2-0 run this year.

  • Colby Covington Issues First Comments On Brutal UFC Tampa Setback: ‘I Came Off The Couch!’

    Colby Covington Issues First Comments On Brutal UFC Tampa Setback: ‘I Came Off The Couch!’

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington was up to his usual antics when addressing his defeat this past weekend for the first time.

    Saturday’s event in Tampa didn’t go to plan for the former interim champion, who returned on short notice to headline the year-ending UFC Fight Night at Amalie Arena.

    The bout came 12 months on from Covington’s third failed attempt at claiming the undisputed crown, and in order to return to winning ways, he was tasked with stalling the charge of Joaquin Buckley.

    Instead, “New Mansa” continued to climb the ladder toward gold at the polarizing veteran’s expense, beating him up across two rounds before a cut he caused with an elbow in the first frame proved too deep for “Chaos” to continue.

    While the ending was somewhat anticlimactic and saw Dana White suggest wouldn’t have happened had the fight been staged in Las Vegas, many believed the writing was already on the wall for Covington’s chances of victory.

    Unsurprisingly, the “many” does not include the man himself…

    During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Covington took fans behind the scenes before and after his headliner at Amalie Arena.

    “Chaos” spoke to the camera post-fight, giving his first comments on a result that has left him 2-4 across his last six and 0-4 against names currently inside the welterweight top 15.

    From the late-notice nature of the bout to the debated stoppage, “Chaos” had his usual litany of reasons to explain the loss ready.

    “We’re gonna be back stronger than ever, this is just the beginning for me,” Covington said. “I wasn’t at my best tonight. I came off the couch but it was for the company, I did this for the company that I love so much that changed my life. … I know there’s still a lot of fight in me and the best is still yet to come.

    “I was just getting warmed up in that fight, I think it was tied up 1-1 and I was starting to wear on him. I see him breathing out of his mouth, I was starting to catch him with more shots so it’s unfortunate that they stopped it,” Covington continued. “Even Dana (White) came out and said if that was in Vegas, it would’ve never been stopped. I took his hardest shots and they didn’t phase me at all. … We’ll come back stronger.”

    It remains to be seen what the future holds for the 36-year-old, but he’s evidently not planning on hanging up his gloves — as some had advised following a defeat that leaves him firmly out of the championship conversation.

    Buckley, meanwhile, looks set for even bigger things in 2025 after extending his perfect welterweight stint with a 4-0 run this year. Though he’s prepared to step in with gold on the line should Shavkat Rakhmonov fall out of his expected shot, “New Mansa” also set his sights on Kamaru Usman post-fight in Tampa.

  • Manel Kape Has Title Shot Pleas Rejected After Standout UFC Tampa Performance

    Manel Kape Has Title Shot Pleas Rejected After Standout UFC Tampa Performance

    UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape didn’t shy away from letting the brass know what he wants at Saturday’s event in Tampa.

    After having his title plans stalled by Muhammad Mokaev in Manchester this past July, Kape returned to action at the UFC’s final event of 2024, where he was tasked with defending his position on the ladder against Bruno Silva.

    “Starboy” bounced back in style, putting on a show with the kind of striking and confident showboating that attracted the MMA leader’s attention while he held gold under the Rizin banner.

    And following two strong rounds, Kape closed the show with strikes in the final frame to cap off a near-flawless return to the win column.

    In the aftermath, the Angola-born Portuguese fighter pleaded with Dana White cageside, making his case for the next shot at Alexandre Pantoja. That was a continuation of a conversation Kape also attempted to start in-between rounds.

    Unfortunately for “Starboy,” he seemingly wasn’t persuasive enough.

    During the post-fight press conference backstage at Amalie Arena, UFC CEO Dana White reflected on Kape’s perseverance when it came to pitching a rematch with champ Pantoja, whom he lost to in his promotional debut back in 2021.

    White did not, however, have the answer the flyweight contender would have been hoping for.

    “No, he’s not getting a title shot,” White said. “But we’ll definitely give him what he’s looking for.”

    It’s unclear what White is referring to, given that Kape was looking for a shot at redemption opposite Pantoja with the flyweight gold on the line next year.

    Regardless, it seems “Starboy” has some work to do if he’s to secure a first championship opportunity on MMA’s biggest stage and the chance to add UFC gold to his trophy cabinet in the sport.

  • Top MMA Coach Picks Joaquin Buckley As ‘Fighter Of The Year’ Over Alex Pereira & Ilia Topuria

    Top MMA Coach Picks Joaquin Buckley As ‘Fighter Of The Year’ Over Alex Pereira & Ilia Topuria

    Coach Eric Nicksick, for one, has been extremely impressed by UFC welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley’s efforts in 2024.

    Buckley closed out his year in style on Saturday night when he headlined the final event of 2024. Opposite him inside Tampa’s Amalie Arena was former interim champion Colby Covington, who planned on placing his name back into title contention a year on from a third failed bid for undisputed status.

    “Chaos” didn’t succeed in that ambition, however, with Buckley dominating him in the opening two rounds before a deep cut sustained just above Covington’s right eye proved too bad for him to continue.

    With the result, “New Mansa” has gone 4-0 this year, having previously knocked out Vicente Luque, outpointed Nursulton Ruziboev, and stopped Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.

    And according to Nicksick, that’s elevated him not only into the “Fighter of the Year” discussion, but above both consensus leading candidates Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria.

    “Real talk, @Newmansa94 (Buckley) resurrection needs to be studied,” Nicksick wrote on X. “6-0 in a new division w/ 4 stoppages, 4-0 in 2024. Ladies and Gentlemen, he’s your 2024 Fighter of the Year. I’m out”

    Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight kingpin, has staked his claim with three title defenses in 2024. After knockouts of Jamahal Hill and Jiƙí ProchĂĄzka, “Poatan” most recently came from behind to batter Khalil Rountree in round four of their headline battle this past October.

    Topuria, meanwhile, seemingly has the edge over the Brazilian in terms of competition level. Though he’s fought once less than Pereira, the Spaniard dethroned the highly regarded Alexander Volkanovski in brutal fashion before becoming the first man to knock out Max Holloway to retain the featherweight gold.

    But taking into account his career revival since dropping to 170 pounds, Buckley appears to have the vote of one renowned trainer in the fight game.

  • Dana White On Colby Covington’s Defeat To Joaquin Buckley: ‘That Fight Doesn’t Get Stopped In Vegas’

    Dana White On Colby Covington’s Defeat To Joaquin Buckley: ‘That Fight Doesn’t Get Stopped In Vegas’

    Joaquin Buckley delivered a commanding performance against Colby Covington in the UFC Tampa main event. However, the fight concluded on a somewhat anticlimactic note when the ringside physician halted the contest due to a gruesome cut on Covington’s face.

    The injury, which worsened as the fight progressed, raised concerns about potential damage to the former interim welterweight champion’s eyelid, prompting the doctor to stop the fight in the third round.

    Dana White shared his thoughts on the stoppage during the post-fight press conference. While acknowledging Buckley’s dominant performance, the UFC CEO expressed disagreement with the decision to end the fight, suggesting the outcome might have been different under different circumstances.

    “No doubt that was a bad cut, but that fight doesn’t get stopped in Vegas,” White stated. “That fight keeps going in Vegas. 100 percent.

    “Listen, Colby’s an older guy who fights every once in a while. He’s always durable and tough. Did you hear the body shots he was taking tonight? And the head shots? Those would have stopped other guys. Colby’s tough, but I feel like he wasn’t too pissed about the stoppage. The cut was definitely bothering him.”

    White emphasized Covington’s resilience, noting that, despite the damage, “Chaos” remained competitive.

    “He’s obviously still one of the top-ranked guys. What we were saying about him all night — he took big shots and stayed in there. But I also believe if that fight’s in Vegas, that fight doesn’t get stopped with that cut. Still, I don’t think Colby was very upset when it did. The cut was bothering him.”

    While the fight’s ending sparked some debate, Buckley’s victory underscored his status as a rising force in the division, with a performance that left no doubt about his dominance.

  • Belal Muhammad Mocks Colby Covington After Dominant UFC Tampa Loss: ‘He Just Sucks’

    Belal Muhammad Mocks Colby Covington After Dominant UFC Tampa Loss: ‘He Just Sucks’

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad was among those roasting the polarizing Colby Covington after his latest defeat.

    Saturday proved to be a difficult night for Covington, as the former interim titleholder returned to action for the first time since a third failed bid at securing the undisputed crown against Leon Edwards last December.

    In his push to reinsert himself into the championship equation, “Chaos” accepted a short-notice UFC Fight Night headliner opposite the charging Joaquin Buckley in Tampa, looking to hand “New Mansa” his first loss since dropping to the division.

    But the controversial veteran convincingly failed in that task, with Buckley putting a beating on him en route to a TKO via doctor’s stoppage in round three.

    While a cut caused the bout’s end, there was little doubt over who was having the better of things. That, unsurprisingly, brought out Covington’s sizable group of enemies and detractors.

    As expected, champ Muhammad was among those enjoying the result…

    “(laughing) man I knows he’s gonna have a bunch of excuses but he just sucks,” Muhammad wrote on X.

    Muhammad and Covington have frequently gone back and forth across recent years.

    But with the former on the throne following his win over Edwards this past July and the latter far from challenging for it again post-UFC Tampa, it would appear that the chances of the pair settling their score inside the cage are now slim.

  • ‘Perfect End To His Silly Career’ – Fans React As Colby Covington Gets Battered By Joaquin Buckley At UFC Tampa

    ‘Perfect End To His Silly Career’ – Fans React As Colby Covington Gets Battered By Joaquin Buckley At UFC Tampa

    Joaquin Buckley added to the woes of Colby Covington on Saturday night, battering the former interim welterweight champion in the main event of UFC Tampa.

    Buckley clearly took the opening round, stopping every takedown attempt from Covington and damaging his eye, including a knockdown of “Chaos” late in the round. The rising contender continued to land well in the second round, and while he was taken down once, “New Mansa” managed to work his way up with strength and still showed strong defense.

    Covington, who was warned about the cut around his eye that had been busted up over two rounds, continued to be battered as the fight entered the third. Even when the fight was on the ground, Buckley’s attack showed no sign of slowing, targeting that cut.

    In the midst of the third round, the doctor was called in to check on the cut and ruled that Covington could no longer safely continue.

    https://twitter.com/KINGV0NBURNER/status/1868179302883156020

    This marked Buckley’s sixth straight win and perhaps his biggest since a viral knockout of Impa Kasaganay. This most likely will give him a top-five contender as his next opponent.

    Covington, meanwhile, has now lost three of his last four. This was his first fight in almost exactly one year since his unsuccessful challenge of then-UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards at UFC 296.

  • VIDEO: UFC Tampa Post-Fight Press Conference After Joaquin Buckley, Cub Swanson’s Headline Wins

    VIDEO: UFC Tampa Post-Fight Press Conference After Joaquin Buckley, Cub Swanson’s Headline Wins

    The year-ending UFC Tampa event recently concluded, and MMA News has you covered with the post-fight press conference at Amalie Arena.

    The venue played host to Octagon action on Dec. 14, as the mixed martial arts leader closed out its schedule for 2024 with a strong lineup that featured a former interim champion, ranked contenders, experienced veterans, and some promising prospects.

    Of note were victories for Joaquin Buckley, Cub Swanson, Manel Kape, Dustin Jacoby, Daniel Marcos, Michael Johnson and Sean Woodson.

    And before attention turns to next year’s offerings from the mixed martial arts leader, there remains some business to attend to backstage at UFC Tampa.

    Shortly after the main event’s ending, Dana White is expected to appear in front of the media to reveal the recipients of the Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses before answering questions. The victorious fighters from UFC Tampa will also take queries from the press in reaction to their performances.

    With that said, see below for a live stream of the UFC Tampa post-fight press conference via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, commencing at 1 AM ET.

  • ‘Age Is Just A Number’ – Poirier, Masvidal, & More Laud 41-Year-Old Cub Swanson After Classic KO At UFC Tampa

    ‘Age Is Just A Number’ – Poirier, Masvidal, & More Laud 41-Year-Old Cub Swanson After Classic KO At UFC Tampa

    If this was the last time we saw Cub Swanson in the Octagon, he went out with a bang by pulling off a devastating knockout of Billy Quarantillo in the co-main event of UFC Tampa.

    The two pulled off an entertaining first round, with both men looking to pick the other apart and each having their moments of control and rocking the other. They then fought another competitive second frame before the fight came to an end in the final round.

    Swanson landed a one-two that dropped Quarantillo out cold, giving “Killer” a walk-off victory.

    https://twitter.com/Full_Violence/status/1868171200800997456

    Swanson has traded wins and losses consecutively since the start of 2021, and he may increase his record for the most post-fight bonuses in UFC/WEC featherweight history.

    “Billy Q,” meanwhile, has now lost three of his last four.

  • ‘Where Was This When He Fought Mokaev?’ – Fans React As Manel Kape Puts On A Show In UFC Tampa Return

    ‘Where Was This When He Fought Mokaev?’ – Fans React As Manel Kape Puts On A Show In UFC Tampa Return

    Manel Kape looked to make a statement as to why he should be next in line for Alexandre Pantoja and the UFC flyweight championship. And perhaps he’s made a case after his finish of Bruno Silva at UFC Tampa.

    Kape’s path to victory in the fight didn’t come without battle scars. Silva landed three low blows on “Starboy” before the halfway point of the fight, resulting in the Brazilian being deducted one point.

    Ultimately, that didn’t make a difference for Silva. Kape’s offense was on full display over the course of the second round, and though Silva landed some power during the third frame, the top 10 contender landed a kick that started a flurry and quickly put “Bulldog” away.

    Silva argued (ironically) that the initial kick was a low blow, but it wasn’t enough to overturn referee Keith Petersen’s original no call.

    https://twitter.com/acdmma_/status/1868164107654095108
    https://twitter.com/ElonovMMA/status/1868163847280070901

    Kape has now won five of his last six fights and rebounds from his lackluster fight with Muhammad Mokaev at UFC 304 this past July.

    Meanwhile, this loss snaps a four-fight win streak that Silva rode into UFC Tampa on.

  • ‘Shades Of Usman vs. Masvidal’ – Fans React As Dustin Jacoby Melts Vitor Petrino With One Shot At UFC Tampa

    ‘Shades Of Usman vs. Masvidal’ – Fans React As Dustin Jacoby Melts Vitor Petrino With One Shot At UFC Tampa

    Dustin Jacoby has just pulled off an absolute shocker of a result.

    Jacoby needed just one punch to pull off a third-round knockout of Vitor Petrino during the main card of UFC Tampa.

    The fight featured plenty of back and forth from both men. They looked to stay patient, but the Brazilian was arguably landing the more effective strikes.

    But just when it looked like he would get his hand raised in a decision, “The Hanyak” changed things out of nowhere, landing a perfectly timed right hand to knock Petrino out cold.

    Fans reacted to the brutal result, with many comparing the manner of it to Kamaru Usman’s one-shot KO of Jorge Masvidal in 2021.

    After going 6-0-1 to start his UFC career following an appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series, Jacoby had lost four of five entering UFC Tampa and was likely fighting for his job.

    Petrino, after an 11-0 start to his professional MMA career, has now lost back-to-back fights. He was finished by Anthony Smith earlier this year at UFC 301.

  • ‘MJ’s Best Performance Since Poirier’ – Fans React As Michael Johnson Adds Another Brutal KO To His Reel At UFC Tampa

    ‘MJ’s Best Performance Since Poirier’ – Fans React As Michael Johnson Adds Another Brutal KO To His Reel At UFC Tampa

    Michael Johnson put on a vintage performance to close out the UFC Tampa preliminary card, delivering a devastating knockout of Ottman Azaitar.

    Johnson picked Azaitar apart on the feet during the opening round, putting on a strong striking display and rocking the German-Moroccan on more than one occasion.

    “The Menace” then put him away brutally in the second round. As Azaitar attempted to come forward, Johnson landed a brutal, lightning quick hook that faceplanted him. He followed up with two vicious strikes before the referee was able to push him off his unconscious opponent.

    Michael Johnson Brings Devastation With KO Of Ottman Azaitar At UFC Tampa

    https://twitter.com/benhasfailed/status/1868128974884470882
    https://twitter.com/ErnieTastyFresh/status/1868130100648268172

    Johnson has now won three of his last four and four of his last six, continuing to secure victories at 38 years of age.

    Azaitar, meanwhile, has now lost three straight since starting his professional MMA career 13-0.

  • VIDEO: Joel Álvarez Attempts Guillotine After Already KO’ing Drakkar Klose With Switch Knee At UFC Tampa

    VIDEO: Joel Álvarez Attempts Guillotine After Already KO’ing Drakkar Klose With Switch Knee At UFC Tampa

    It’s not every day that we see someone finish an opponent twice in the same fight, but that appeared to be what we saw during the UFC Tampa prelims in Joel Álvarez’s win over Drakkar Klose.

    The Spaniard landed a strong combination that stumbled Klose backward toward the fence. Alvarez then appeared to slump Klose with a jumping knee.

    The flashy striker seemed to be nearing a guillotine choke as he landed follow-up shots on Klose, who was evidently already out. The referee then jumped in to declare Álvarez the winner.

    After UFC Tampa, Álvarez has now won three straight and is 7-2 in the Octagon, with one of his losses coming against upcoming lightweight title challenger Arman Tsarukyan. He last fought in August, defeating Elves Brener.

    Klose, meanwhile, sees a four-fight win streak snapped with this loss. He had most recently been in action at UFC 301 earlier this year, defeating Joaquim Silva.

  • Sean Woodson Ties Movsar Evloev For Featherweight Record With Quick Knockout At UFC Tampa

    Sean Woodson Ties Movsar Evloev For Featherweight Record With Quick Knockout At UFC Tampa

    Sean Woodson continues to score wins, and this time it came with a bang as he pulled off a major finish of Fernando Padilla during the preliminary card of UFC Tampa.

    Woodson had to outlast an early surge from Padilla, but he fought back to fire off his own flurries during the second half of the first round.

    “The Sniper” then fired off back-to-back powerful one-two combinations to drop the Mexican in the closing seconds of the first round. Woodson needed just a little ground-and-pound before the referee stepped in to wave off the fight.

    This UFC Tampa victory increased Woodson’s run without a defeat to eight straight fights, tying him for longest active unbeaten streak in the UFC’s featherweight division. Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy have the same kind of streak currently.

    The 32-year-old finishes 2024 3-0, defeating Charles Jourdain and Alex Caceres earlier this year.

    Padilla., meanwhile, falls to 2-2 since making his UFC debut in April 2023.

  • Belal Muhammad Hoping Joaquin Buckley Breaks Colby Covington’s Jaw: ‘We’ve Seen It Before…’

    Belal Muhammad Hoping Joaquin Buckley Breaks Colby Covington’s Jaw: ‘We’ve Seen It Before…’

    Belal Muhammad has made it clear that he will be rooting against Colby Covington in the UFC Tampa main event, where “Chaos” is set to face Joaquin Buckley at the Amalie Arena.

    Muhammad and Covington share a long-standing history of animosity, having exchanged verbal jabs for years. Despite the bad blood, the two have never faced off in the Octagon. Now, the reigning welterweight champ hopes Buckley delivers a decisive victory over the ex-interim titleholder.

    “I’m hoping that Buckley breaks his jaw,” Muhammad said. “I hope that Buckley puts him out cold, and I think that Buckley can put him out cold. Colby’s striking is terrible, and his wrestling looked awful in his last fight. I think Buckley is athletic enough to defend those takedowns.”

    Shifting gears, Muhammad provided a detailed analysis of how Buckley could secure a win while highlighting areas where caution will be necessary against the three-time title challenger’s skillset.

    “If Buckley doesn’t get crazy — he throws a lot of wide hooks that leave openings for shots underneath — he just can’t let Colby push him to the fence,” Muhammad explained. “He can’t let Colby keep him on the fence and wear him down. In his last fight against ‘Wonderboy,’ he was getting a little bit tired, but I think that was more because he was offensive wrestling ‘Wonderboy.’ He was taking ‘Wonderboy’ down, ‘Wonderboy’ would get up, he was trying to hold him down, and you don’t really need to hold Colby down.”

    Muhammad emphasized that the primary strategy for “Chaos” would be to rely on takedowns, as he believes the polarizing veteran lacks striking power.

    “Colby can’t strike, and nothing he throws is dangerous,” Muhammad said. “We’ve seen Colby have his jaw broken before by Kamaru (Usman), who isn’t great at striking. So, I think Buckley, who has way more power and way better boxing, can put Colby to sleep.”

  • UFC Fight Night: Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    After staging its latest numbered event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas last weekend, MMA’s leading promotion will close out its 2024 schedule with a card inside the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

    In the main event, the polarizing Covington makes his first appearance of 2024. 12 months on from a third failed attempt at capturing the undisputed welterweight crown, “Chaos” will look to keep his late-career title hopes alive by stalling the charge of Joaquin Buckley.

    Elsewhere, the likes of UFC Hall of Famer Cub Swanson, former Rizin champion Manel Kape, and heavy hitting light heavyweight Vitor Petrino will all be in action.

    Ahead of the event, all 26 fighters successfully made weight. With that, every fight is intact, and all that remains on Friday is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC Fight Night Tampa ceremonial weigh-ins.

    Check out a live stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, commencing at 4 PM ET.

    UFC Fight Night Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

  • UFC Tampa Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Covington vs. Buckley, Swanson vs. Quarantillo, & More

    UFC Tampa Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Covington vs. Buckley, Swanson vs. Quarantillo, & More

    UFC Tampa is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekend’s lineup.

    The upcoming event takes place Saturday, December 14, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be former interim welterweight titleholder Colby Covington. A year on from his third failed shot at the undisputed championship, “Chaos” will look to insert himself back into the equation by stalling the charge of Joaquin Buckley.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see two veterans collide in Cub Swanson and Billy Quarantillo. And also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of Manel Kape, Vitor Petrino, and Michael Johnson.

    UFC Tampa: Covington vs. Buckley Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Tampa (as of 12/13), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Colby Covington (+200) vs. Joaquin Buckley (-245)
    • Cub Swanson (+124) vs. Billy Quarantillo (-148)
    • Manel Kape (-380) vs. Bruno Silva (+300)
    • Vitor Petrino (-340) vs. Dustin Jacoby (+270)
    • Adrian Yañez (+185) vs. Daniel Marcos (-225)
    • Navajo Stirling (-750) vs. Tuco Tokkos (+525)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Michael Johnson (-230) vs. Ottman Azaitar (+190)
    • Joel Álvarez (-425) vs. Drakkar Klose (+330)
    • Sean Woodson (-155) vs. Fernando Padilla (+130)
    • Miles Johns (+200) vs. Felipe Lima (-245)
    • Miranda Maverick (-600) vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth (+440)
    • Davey Grant (-122) vs. Ramon Taveras (+102)
    • Josefine Knutsson (-245) vs. Piera Rodriguez (+200)
  • UFC Fight Night: Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After staging its final numbered event of the year in Las Vegas last weekend, the mixed martial arts leader will close out its 2024 schedule with Octagon action inside Tampa’s Amalie Arena.

    The main event will see Colby Covington make the walk for the first time since his third failed bid to achieve undisputed champion status last December. “Chaos” will meet the charging Joaquin Buckley in a short-notice clash, with “New Mansa” look to continue his unbeaten run at 170 pounds all the way to a place in title contention.

    Before that, the likes of fan-favorite featherweight Cub Swanson, former Rizin champion Manel Kape, light heavyweight powerhouse Vitor Petrino and the always entertaining Adrian Yañez will all be in action.

    UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Buckley Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Buckley takes place on Saturday, December 14, at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The main card begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

    See above for a replay of the weigh-ins via MMA Fighting, and check out the full results below!

    Main Card:

    • Welterweight Main Event: Colby Covington (171lbs) vs. Joaquin Buckley (171lbs)
    • Featherweight Co-Main Event: Cub Swanson (146lbs) vs. Billy Quarantillo (146lbs)
    • Flyweight: Manel Kape (125lbs) vs. Bruno Silva (126lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight: Vitor Petrino (204.5lbs) vs. Dustin Jacoby (205.5lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Adrian Yañez (136lbs) vs. Daniel Marcos (136lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight: Navajo Stirling (206lbs) vs. Tuco Tokkos (206lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight: Michael Johnson (156lbs) vs. Ottman Azaitar (156lbs)
    • Lightweight: Joel Álvarez (156lbs) vs. Drakkar Klose (156lbs)
    • Featherweight: Sean Woodson (145.5lbs) vs. Fernando Padilla (145.5lbs)
    • Featherweight: Miles Johns (146lbs) vs. Felipe Lima (146lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Miranda Maverick (126lbs) vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth (126lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Davey Grant (136lbs) vs. Ramon Taveras
    • Women’s Strawweight: Josefine Knutsson (116lbs) vs. Piera Rodriguez (116lbs)

  • Cub Swanson Wants An Apology From Joaquin Buckley: ‘People Need To Show Respect’

    Cub Swanson Wants An Apology From Joaquin Buckley: ‘People Need To Show Respect’

    Tensions are running high between welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley and UFC veteran Cub Swanson as both prepare for their respective fights at UFC Tampa this Saturday.

    Buckley is set to headline the event in a clash against Colby Covington, while Swanson will face Billy Quarantillo in the co-main event. With both fighters sharing the card, their simmering feud became a hot topic during media day.

    “I stand by what I said,” Swanson remarked when asked about the ongoing beef. “I don’t think the younger guys should be disrespecting the older guys. That’s just what I think. I believe the people who paved the way always deserve respect.

    “I’m sure I will [run into him], and I’m not going to back down from what I said,” Swanson continued. “I was a fan of his until he opened his mouth a little bit. I’ve got no ill will towards him, but, like I said, I think people need to show respect.”

    The animosity began when Buckley claimed he could knock out a prime Georges St-Pierre, a statement that struck a nerve with Swanson, a close friend and former teammate of the legendary welterweight and middleweight champion. “Killer” came to GSP’s defense, which prompted Buckley to respond with harsh words, including questioning the entirety of the veteran’s career.

    The situation escalated when Buckley referred to Swanson using derogatory language. This weekend’s co-headlined addressed this directly.

    “An apology for calling me a ‘ho,’ because that’s one thing I’m not,” he stated. “I’ve stayed true to myself, I’ve stayed true to who I am my entire career, so the name-calling was just a little over the line. But I was a fan of his until that moment.”

    Despite the friction, both fighters remain focused on their respective matchups, but the tension adds an extra layer of drama to an already highly anticipated UFC Tampa card.

  • Colby Covington Gets Honest On Troubles After Third Failed UFC Title Bid: ‘Mentally Speaking…’

    Colby Covington Gets Honest On Troubles After Third Failed UFC Title Bid: ‘Mentally Speaking…’

    Colby Covington is set to headline the UFC Fight Night in Tampa this Saturday at Amalie Arena in a highly anticipated matchup against Joaquin Buckley. Ahead of his return, it’s safe to say that the former interim champion’s career since 2018 has been a roller coaster of triumphs and setbacks.

    The journey began with Covington claiming the interim welterweight title at UFC 225 with a win over Rafael dos Anjos. However, he was later stripped of the title due to injury.

    At UFC 245 in 2019, he lost to Kamaru Usman via TKO in a bid for the undisputed belt. Covington rebounded in September 2020 with a TKO victory over Tyron Woodley, but subsequent fights brought mixed results.

    “Chaos” suffered another loss to Usman at UFC 268, claimed a decisive win against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272 in March 2022, and most recently fell to Leon Edwards via decision for the title at UFC 296.

    Reflecting on his year-long hiatus, Covington shared insight into his personal and professional growth during the first episode of UFC Journey for this weekend’s main event on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel.

    “It’s been a year since my last fight, and I’ve used that time to really grow myself as a martial artist and as a person,” Covington said. “Mentally speaking, I’m in a better place than I’ve ever been. After I lost three shots at the undisputed title, it felt like the lowest of lows. I lost and forgot who I was, and that was a good reminder that woke me up again. I just had to cancel out the bad energy.”

    Covington emphasized his renewed commitment to his goal of becoming the undisputed champion.

    “I knew that I couldn’t let that hype and ego get to my head. I had to train harder to be the No. 1 contender again because all I ever wanted was to be the undisputed champion. That’s all I cared about.”

    As the fight against Buckley approaches, Covington sees this as a chance to rewrite past wrongs and silence the critics who have doubted him.