Colby Covington experienced a challenging week after suffering his second defeat in just a matter of days.
Last Saturday, he faced a brutal matchup against Joaquin Buckley, which resulted in a doctors’ stoppage during the main event at UFC Tampa due to a severe cut over his right eye. Covington believes he was beginning to turn the tide in the fight and claims it would have continued successfully, a sentiment echoed by promotional president Dana White, who suggested that in a different state, the fight could have proceeded.
Currently, Covington finds himself on a two-fight losing streak and has dropped to ninth place in the welterweight rankings. Matters worsened for him when he was eliminated from the World Series of Poker mere hours after his loss in Florida.
After nearly a year since his last title shot against Leon Edwards, Covington returned to the octagon last Saturday night. Accepting the bout with Joaquin Buckley on short notice following Ian Machado Garry’s late entry to UFC 310, Covington appeared to need some time to get back into the swing of things. He started slowly, allowing Buckley to land numerous strikes, and following a failed takedown attempt in the first round, a cut developed that worsened as the fight progressed.
As the second round concluded, doctors assessed the cut and warned Covington that the fight would be halted if the injury worsened. Towards the end of the third round, referee Dan Miragliotta called for a check on the cut once again. The ringside physician made a dire prediction, stating that continued fighting could risk Covington losing his eyelid, ultimately leading to the bout’s stoppage and ending a frustrating night for him as he continues to slide down the rankings.
Speaking at the post-fight press conference, UFC CEO Dana White expressed that while the injury warranted concern, the fight would have likely gone on had it taken place in Nevada. Although Florida hosts regular combat events, it does not do so at the frequency of Nevada, where most major shows occur.
White remarked, “I was curious to see how it would go if it had gone five rounds. There’s no doubt that it was a bad cut, but that fight doesn’t get stopped in Vegas—100% it keeps going.” He acknowledged Covington’s toughness and durability, noting that he absorbed significant body and head shots that might have knocked out lesser fighters.
However, he recognized the impact of the cut, stating, “It was definitely bothering him, and literally as soon as the corner would fix it, he’d rip it open again… That alone tells you that the cut was bothering him big time.”
After the fight, Covington quickly jetted off to the Bahamas for the big World Series of Poker event at Atlantis Paradise Island, boasting a $50 million guaranteed winner for the Super Main Event. Unfortunately, shortly after his arrival, Covington faced elimination from the tournament, the details of which are not clear. Attired in sunglasses, large headphones, a Nike tracksuit, and a Bang Energy hat, he left the tournament hall soon after.
Social media users had fun at Covington’s expense following his latest disappointment, with one jesting that the “WSOP social team definitely said knocked out on purpose.” An experienced player, Covington has participated at a high level in poker during his downtime from MMA. He also streams his gambling activities to a significant audience on Twitch, discussing his career and engaging with fans through games.
Source link
