UFC Tampa is gearing up for an electrifying clash this Saturday as two elite welterweights, Colby Covington and Joaquin Buckley, face off in the Octagon. For Covington, who is eager to bounce back after falling short in three title fights, this showdown is a pivotal chance to reignite his championship aspirations. However, taking on Buckley is anything but a straightforward path to redemption.

Covington has been struggling with his form inside the Octagon lately, especially with his less-than-stellar showing against Leon Edwards at UFC 296 last year. While his opponent is in top-notch form, Gilbert Burns feels ‘Chaos’ can still cause an upset. Let us take a look at what the Brazilian had to say about his fellow welterweight.

Joaquin Buckley can face a lot of trouble against Colby Covington feels Burns

Colby Covington‘s journey in the UFC is a story of skill and determination, albeit tinged with controversies. Known for his relentless cardio and grinding wrestling, Covington has carved out a reputation as one of the most polarizing figures in mixed martial arts. Outside the cage, Covington’s outspoken personality and trash-talking antics have often stolen headlines. His brash persona, while divisive, has undeniably elevated his profile, making him a consistent draw in the sport. However, despite his never-say-die attitude and a sheer will to dominate his opponents, he has failed to clinch the undisputed welterweight title on three separate occasions.

Despite all his setbacks, including long periods of inactivity, Covington has managed to keep himself relevant in the sport. But in the twilight of his career, at age 36, Covington faces arguably his biggest test inside the Octagon with Joaquin Buckley. ‘New Mansa’ is a knockout artist who was a force to be reckoned with at middleweight, but faced multiple setbacks at that weight class. However, since moving to welterweight, he’s looked nigh indestructible in a five-fight win streak. But according to Burns, he might not have it this easy against ‘Chaos’.

With Submission Radio sharing their prediction for the UFC Tampa headliner on Instagram, it seems the Brazilian is rooting for Covington. Burns said, “If Buckley cannot put Colby out of there in the first or the second round, I think Colby will overwhelm him. He’s going to beat him up, and Colby can maybe get a dominant decision win. I think Colby can get a win.”

The biggest factor working against Covington is his age in the sport, coupled with periods of inactivity. His opponent Buckley has stayed sharp by competing regularly, with his most notable victory this year coming against Stephen Thompson at UFC 307. In contrast, Covington’s last appearance was against Leon Edwards in 2023, and he hasn’t fought since, leaving questions about how his time away might affect his performance on Saturday. Will his time off the sport affect his performance? One of his former rivals feels it might.

Kamaru Usman points out the biggest problem for ‘Chaos’ in his next fight

Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman were locked in one of the most intense rivalries in MMA history, and some of the best fights came out of that rivalry. Both Covington and Usman have been away from the Octagon since 2023, with a few months separating each fighter’s appearance. Regardless of their inactivity, both fighters remain relevant in a division as stacked as welterweight, and though Usman is excited about his former opponent’s UFC Tampa headliner against Joaquin Buckley, he expressed worry for ‘Chaos’. During an appearance on the ‘Pound 4 Pound’ podcast with Henry Cejudo, he offered his perspective on the matchup, emphasizing the significance of Covington’s inactivity.

He said, “But yeah, it’s a very, very good fight I like the fact that Joaquin Buckley is coming off of a five-fight winning streak. The way I see this is Buckley is hungry is aggressive. He’s going to come after Covington. I worry about the inactivity of Covington because I said that in his last fight, I said, ‘Him going into a title fight with Leon Edwards, [and] such a long layoff is going to take time to get into the fight where he starts to get going again.”

Furthermore, Covington is 3-5 in his last five appearances, while Buckley is on a five-fight win streak with three knockouts, no less. Per Gilbert Burns, ‘New Mansa’ will have to finish Covington early if he wants an easy path to victory. If he doesn’t, then the championship experience of ‘Chaos’ can ensure a smooth victory for the returning veteran. But again, as per Usman, and keeping in mind the age factor in MMA, ‘Chaos’ being 36 years old and coming off a long layoff might not exactly play in his favor. But this is MMA – anything can happen.

Who do you think will emerge victorious in the UFC Tampa headliner? Will it be the veteran Colby Covington and his signature pressure-heavy, cardio-based fighting, or will Joaquin Buckley put the NCAA Division-1 wrestler away with his power? Let us know in the comments below.