Joaquin Buckley Aims for Sixth Consecutive Win Against Colby Covington at UFC Fight Night

Joaquin Buckley is on the cusp of a significant milestone as he prepares to face former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington in the main event of UFC Fight Night. Buckley, currently ranked No. 9 in ESPN‘s welterweight division, is seeking his sixth consecutive victory. His last win came against Stephen Thompson via a third-round knockout at UFC 307 in October 2024.

Buckley, known for his explosive striking and athleticism, has evolved his game significantly. He has transitioned from being primarily a striker to a well-rounded fighter who can also dominate on the ground. MMA analyst and former UFC welterweight Alan Jouban highlighted Buckley’s improved grappling skills, noting that he has been taking down opponents repeatedly and is not afraid of submission threats.

Colby Covington, ranked No. 8 in the same division, is coming off a loss to Leon Edwards in a title challenge in December 2023. Covington has lost three of his last five fights and is in a challenging position, having recently left his training team and now training on his own. Analysts believe this could be a significant disadvantage against a fighter like Buckley, who has good takedown defense and excels in striking.

ESPN betting expert Ian Parker favors Buckley to win, suggesting that Covington’s lack of improvement in his game and his current training situation make this a tough matchup for him. Parker recommends taking Buckley to win and over 1.5 rounds for better odds.

The fight is scheduled to take place on December 14, 2024, at UFC Fight Night, with the main event airing at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN2/ESPN+ and the prelims starting at 7 p.m. ET on the same platforms.