Colby Covington said he was going to call CBO/UFC Head litigator Hunter Campbell and ask to fight Shavkat Rakhmonov. Instead, he drew Joaquin Buckley. He now makes a surprising return to the octagon after one year away at the UFC on ESPN 63 headliner in Tampa. The man that does face Rakhmonov – Ian Garry – had some thoughts on that.
Garry has long vied for a scrap with the 170-pound longstay due to personal grudge. Colby Covington jumped on the s*xual innuendo bandwidth when wife Layla Anna-Lee and her 2010 satirical publication How to be a WAG got viral. The Irishman alleged he was ready but ‘Chaos’ kept declining. Now he ripped him for coming out of the shadows for the UFC Tampa (UFC on ESPN 63) booking right after him.
He’s been ducking me for fu*king seven eight months…I signed for the baddest man in the division, and this guy comes out of the fu*king shadows – He’s a p*ssy, he’s a bi*ch…And one day I’ll get my hands on him.
Ian Garry said (🎥@iangarryMMA)
These came to be when promotional CEO Dana White dropeed some welterweight fight news right before UFC 309 eve. Current 170-pound beltholder, Belal Muhammad, is out for about six weeks due to a gruesome foot infection. His UFC 310 Pay-per-view (PPV) headliner opponent Shavkat Rakhmonov chose to stay on. Now the undefeated phenom meets Ian Machado Garry in hopes of taking a spot from each others “0” in the stats.
Ian Garry is rooting for Joaquin Buckley to beat Colby Covington at #UFCTampa:
“I signed for the baddest man in the division, and [Colby] comes out of the f***ing shadows. He’s a p*ssy, he’s a b*tch.”
🎥 @iangarryMMA #UFC #MMApic.twitter.com/4Ytqa1bUf2
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) November 20, 2024
Meanwhile, Garry moved on, rather than facing Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa (UFC on ESPN 63). He takes on the boogeyman in a top 10 welterweights Pay-per-view (PPV) spotlight. Still not a UFC main eventer, Garry, 27, would be absolutely undeniable if he gets through finisher supremo Rakhmonov. Former title challenger Covington might just see himself pitted against Garry after that. For now, he looks to his own pile.
Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley: Odds for UFC Tampa Headliner
Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) hasn’t fought since December 2023. He last dropped a lopsided decision to Leon Edwards at UFC 296 PPV. The defeat dropped ‘Chaos’ to 0-3 in undisputed UFC title billings. The clash with Buckley will give him a chance to log his first win over an active member.
Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley preview and picks for UFC Tampa (UFC on ESPN 63) headliner (Source: X)A powerhouse in Buckley (21-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) will be looking to stop the brash upstart Colby Covington trying to get back in game. Joaquin Buckley enters UFC Tampa (UFC on ESPN 63) after putting in a solid 5-0 stat after dropping down to welterweight. It includes stoppages of former title challenger Stephen Thompson and longtime contender Vicente Luque.
Colby Covington will face Joaquin Buckley in the main event at #UFCTampa on December 14, Dana White announced. pic.twitter.com/CV8TUYUwGP
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 16, 2024
UFC Fight Night Opening Odds:
Colby Covington (+120)
Joaquin Buckley (-142) https://t.co/GMjvj1ftEr— FightOdds.io (@FightOdds_io) November 17, 2024
Were this the roundup the division needed? There is just no telling. But after previous failed title bids, a five-round welterweight UFC Tampa main event is all there is. DraftKings released the opening odds for UFC on ESPN 63 main event, December 14 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. Buckley is a +145 betting favorite over the rival.
Covington is a clear underdog. If he beats him, Buckley (21-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) can move on nearer to title oportunities after his solid body of work. If Covington comes out a winner, so would he to other names. Or he could regress to God and country’s work if Ian Machdo Garry comes pestering again.
