Final UFC Event Of 2024
UFC Tampa: Covington vs Buckley goes down this weekend, closing out a massive year for the promotion. As always, UFC Tampa is seen gavel-to-gavel inside the United States on ESPN+. Live coverage begins at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT with the undercard fights before moving onto the main card at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT.
Our focus this time out is on the latter half of this weekend’s card. Saturday’s event at the Amalie Arena features 13 MMA bouts, among them a five-round main event that could have big implications in the UFC‘s welterweight rankings.
The card also features a possible future contender for Alexandre Pantoja’s flyweight crown, as well as three undefeated fighters looking to remain unbeaten. Let’s take a look at some of the action taking place this Saturday night during the UFC Tampa main card.
Colby Covington (17-4) vs. Joaquin Buckley (20-6) Welterweight
Colby Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) steps in to replace Ian Machado Garry (15-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC), a former stalwart of UK-based Cage Warriors, in Saturday’s UFC Tampa main event. After the Irishman leapt at the opportunity to face Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 last weekend, “Chaos” has been out of action for almost a year with his last appearance coming at UFC 296 against Leon Edwards (22-4, 1 NC MMA, 14-3, 1 NC UFC.)
Having lost three of his last five fights (with all three of those defeats being title deciders), the 36-year-old is slowly slipping down the welterweight rankings.
Joaquin Buckley (20-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) looks to be moving in the opposite direction, having won all five of his fights after making the move down from middleweight early last year. “New Mansa” will likely find himself entering the title picture at 170 lbs. should he overcome Covington this weekend.
UFC Tampa Co-Main Event: Cub Swanson (29-14) vs. Billy Quarantillo (18-6) Featherweight
Immediately beforehand during the co-headlining affair of UFC Tampa, Cub Swanson (29-14 MMA, 14-10 UFC) makes his 25th walk to the Octagon on Saturday night. The WEC veteran debuted in the UFC against Ricardo Lamas (20-8 MMA, 11-6 UFC) back in 2011 and the 41-year-old has picked up wins over such luminaries as Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier throughout his exceptional career.
Billy Quarantillo(18-6 MMA, like Swanson, suffered defeat in his only competitive outing during 2024 and will be looking to end the year on a high note by adding “Killer’s” name to his list of conquests.
Manel Kape (19-7) vs. Bruno Silva (14-5-2) Flyweight
With Alexandre Pantoja having cleaned out the top of the UFC’s flyweight division during his impressive title reign, there is an opening for a new challenger to emerge at 125 lbs.
Manel Kape (19-7 MMA, 4-3 UFC) lost a decision to the current champion back in 2021 but if he can pick up a win here against fellow ranked contender Bruno Silva (14-5-2, 1 NC MMA, 4-2, 1 NC UFC) “Starboy” may not be too far away from inserting himself into the title picture after UFC Tampa this coming weekend.
The Angolan-born flyweight will need to prove he can make the flyweight limit reliably and consistently, having struggled to do some on a number of occasions during his UFC tenure.
Check out the full fight card for UFC Tampa below.
UFC Tampa Main Card: (10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT, ESPN+)
Colby Covington (17-4) vs. Joaquin Buckley (20-6) Welterweight
Cub Swanson (29-14) vs. Billy Quarantillo (18-6) Featherweight
Manel Kape (19-7) vs. Bruno Silva (14-5-2) Flyweight
Dustin Jacoby (19-9-1) vs. Vitor Petrino (11-1) Light heavyweight
Daniel Marcos (16-0) vs. Adrian Yanez (17-5) Bantamweight
Navajo Stirling (5-0) vs. Tuco Tokkos (10-4) Light heavyweight
UFC Tampa Prelims: (7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT, ESPN+)
Michael Johnson (22-19) vs. Ottman Azaitar (13-2) Lightweight
Drakkar Klose (15-2-1) vs. Joel Alvarez (21-3) Lightweight
Sean Woodson (12-1-1) vs. Fernando Padilla (16-5) Featherweight
Miles Johns (15-2) vs. Felipe Lima (13-1) Featherweight
Miranda Maverick (14-5) vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth (7-1) Flyweight
Davey Grant (13-7) vs. Ramon Taveras (10-2) Bantamweight
Piera Rodriguez (9-2) vs. Josefine Knutsson (8-0) Strawweight
