The final UFC card of 2024 is upon us, as Colby Covington and Joaquin Buckley will look to put on a show at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay, Florida, this weekend. This is the first time the UFC has come to Tampa Bay since 2019, and Florida native Covington will look to send the crowd home happy. Both fighters are eager to get into the title picture in the Welterweight division, and a dominant performance could vault them up the rankings. The UFC odds have Buckley as the favorite to win, but Covington’s experience could make him a fantastic underdog UFC pick in the main event.
Covington vs Buckley Fight Card
There are several intriguing UFC matchups on the Covington vs Buckley fight card. The main event features a pair of welterweight contenders, but there are a pair of other fights with serious title implications. The co-main event between Cub Swanson and Billy Quarantillo is a fight for the fans, but the third-last fight on the card is a whole different story. Ninth-ranked Manel Kape and 12th-ranked Bruno Silva are both just one or two wins away from a title shot in a wide open flyweight division. Kape is the favorite according to the current UFC odds, but both men will be certain they can get their hand raised on Saturday night.
| Weight Class | Fighter | Fighter |
| Welterweight | Colby Covington | Joaquin Buckley |
| Featherweight | Cub Swanson | Billy Quarantillo |
| Flyweight | Manel Kape | Bruno Silva |
| Light Heavyweight | Vitor Petrino | Dustin Jacoby |
| Bantamweight | Adrian Yanez | Daniel Marcos |
| Light Heavyweight | Navajo Stirling | Tuco Tokkos |
UFC Odds: Covington vs Buckley
| Favorite | Underdog |
| Joaquin Buckley (-250) | Colby Covington (+200) |
| Billy Quarantillo (-155) | Cub Swanson (+125) |
| Manel Kape (-375) | Bruno Silva (+280) |
| Vitor Petrino (-334) | Dustin Jacoby (+260) |
| Daniel Marcos (-225) | Adrian Yanez (+180) |
| Navajo Stirling (-800) | Tuco Tokkos (+533) |
Who Is the Favorite to Win?
The favorite to win the main event this weekend is Joaquin Buckley. Buckley has won five straight fights and was scheduled to fight Ian Garry before the Irishman was called to fight at UFC 310. Buckley has the knockout power to seriously hurt Covington on Saturday and is the clear favorite to win, according to the UFC odds.
Colby Covington: Recent Performances and Form
Colby Covington is one of the most controversial fighters in the UFC. He was the first UFC champion to get invited to the White House and has clung to that claim to fame for the last 5 years. Covington won seven fights in a row from 2016 to 2019 but has since alternated wins and losses over the last five years. He has been extremely inactive, only fighting once per year since 2019. His only wins in that span came against a pair of washed up fighters, Jorge Masvidal and Tyron Woodley. Covington still has the star power to get back into the title picture with a dominating victory, but at 36 years old, time is quickly running out for ‘Chaos’ to claim the ultimate UFC achievement.
Colby Covington relies on his smothering wrestling to find success in the octagon. He won gold medals in college and the 2013 World Championship for wrestling. His pace has yet to slow down with age, but he had a very disappointing fight against Leon Edwards the last time he was in the cage. Covington will look to slow down Buckley’s activity and put his opponent on the mat as often as possible. If he can do that, his +200 underdog UFC odds could be a fantastic UFC prediction to make.
Joachim Buckley: Recent Performances and Form
Joaquin Buckley has a chance to add a massive name to his resume in Tampa Bay. Buckley stormed onto the UFC scene with his viral spinning back kick against Impa Kasanganay in 2020. Back-to-back losses in 2022 appeared to have derailed his momentum, but five straight wins since then have shot Buckley up the rankings. He most recently beat Stephen Thompson by knockout just two months ago and also pieced up Vicente Luque in the middle of his win streak. Buckley probably needs another win or two after Covington to get a title shot, but a win over the former Interim UFC champion will seriously build his resume.
Buckley relies on powerful punches to keep his opponents at bay. His ability to control the pace of the fight is rarely seen in fighters of his style. He can not only land devastating knockout blows, but the accuracy of his jab will give Covington serious problems. Covington will look to test Buckley’s takedown defense early and often, but if this fight stays on the feet, Buckley will get his hand raised at the end of 25 minutes or less.
Where to Make Free Predictions: Covington vs Buckley Fight?
The best place to make your free UFC predictions for the Covington vs Buckley fight is Sportzino. Sportzino offers the best lines and UFC odds for every UFC fight this weekend, from the first prelim fight to the main event between Colby Covington and Joaquin Buckley. Not only does Sportzino have the standard moneyline UFC odds, but they also have numerous props, including round props, method of victory props, and over/unders.
