UFC Tampa results: Biggest winners, losers from ‘Covington vs. Buckley’ last night

UFC Tampa hit the floor last night (Sat., Dec. 14, 2024) at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida for a welterweight bout Joaquin Buckley Score an impressive technical knockout (TKO) victory. Colby Covingtonwhich beats him up enough to force a medical stop (highlights here). In the co-main event Young Swanson turned around Billy QuarantilloThe lights go out with a devastating shot in the third round (here again).

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Biggest winner: Joaquin Buckley

Don’t look now, but the welterweight division has a new threat as “New Mansa” secured his sixth straight win in the division since his promotion 17 months ago. That’s right, Buckley has won six fights in a year and a half, four of them by KO/TKO. A win over Covington is the biggest of his career and one that will propel him up the 170-pound rankings. Even without the doctor stoppage, it just felt like another TKO win in traditional fashion was just around the corner.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Runner-up: Cub Swanson

Swanson turned back the clock, went back to headhunting, and scored a huge knockout win over Billy Quarantillo in the third round of their featherweight bout (see again here). Now the veteran just needs to be a little more consistent with the wins, as he has alternated wins and losses in his last seven fights over a four-year period. Nevertheless, the World Exteme Cagefighting (WEC) legend can be happy about the victory and the associated $50,000 in bonus money after the fight. If this is the end for Swanson, he won’t come away with a very good performance. The stuff legends are made of.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Biggest loser: Colby Covington

Covington desperately needed a win after being sidelined for a year following his loss to the former welterweight champion. Leon Edwards. But things went from bad to worse for “Chaos,” who was unilaterally beaten by Buckley. In the beginning, Covington showed his old self again, but when Buckley started landing his powerful punches, things slowly began to crumble for the former interim champion. After two straight defeats and three of his last four defeats, Covington is now at a crossroads in his career that will have him going back to the drawing board and thinking about his future as a fighter.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Second: Ottman Azaitar

Entering the event, Azaitar was on a two-fight losing streak after starting his MMA career with a perfect 13-0, which included winning his first two fights inside the Octagon. But things got even worse for “The Bulldozer” as he suffered his third consecutive defeat after being knocked unconscious by a devastating blow Michael Johnson. To make matters worse, all three of his defeats during his standoff came on strikes. There’s no telling whether he’ll get another chance to patch things up in the octagonal cage or get his clearance to walk.

For complete UFC Tampa results, coverage and highlights click here HERE.