Colby Covington Gets Unexpected Backing as Kamaru Usman Has Only One ‘Worry’ About Joaquin Buckley Fight

The city of Tampa is set for an epic showdown this Saturday, as two top welterweights in the form of Colby Covington and Joaquin Buckley step into the Octagon with their eyes firmly set on climbing the ranks and chasing the belt. Struggling to regain his momentum after three failed title shots, this bout against Buckley presents a crucial opportunity for redemption. But it’s not going to be an easy task.

Former division king Kamaru Usman recently weighed in on Covington’s struggles, particularly after the long layoff following his fight with Leon Edwards. Speaking on the Pound for Pound podcast with Henry Cejudo, Usman shared his insights into the matchup, focusing on the fighters’ shared southpaw stance.

Usman said, “You’re right, Henry. This is a very compelling fight. I like the fight because they are both southpaw. But that doesn’t necessarily favor either guy because. Colby Covington can fight southpaw.” He then complimented Covington’s ability to fight from the southpaw stance, recalling his own experience facing Covington at UFC 268. If this was an issue for a former division phenom like Usman, the same can pop up for an emerging contender like ‘New Mansa’.

Usman further added, “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 but such a long layoff is going to take time to get into the fight where he starts to get going again.”

Buckley has stayed active in the octagon while Covington has had significant time off. The former has continued to compete at a high level, most notably defeating Stephen Thompson at UFC 307 earlier this year. Meanwhile, Covington last fought Leon Edwards in 2023 and hasn’t stepped inside the octagon since.

Despite the extended layoff for Covington, this matchup remains unpredictable. Both fighters bring their own strengths to the table, and it’s difficult to call. However, looking at the predictions and analyzing their fighting styles could offer a clearer understanding of what to expect.

Predictions for Covington vs. Buckley: who will win?

Despite having two more years of experience, Covington’s resume doesn’t quite match up to Buckley’s in terms of fight volume and raw knockout power. Buckley has fought in 26 professional bouts, securing 20 wins with 6 losses and an impressive 14 knockouts to his name.

In comparison, Covington has competed in 21 fights and boasts a higher win percentage, with 17 victories and only 4 defeats. This also includes a vital experience of four different title bouts and 8 finishes. While Covington holds a slight height advantage at 5’11” compared to Buckley’s 5’10”, both fighters weigh in the same.

Covington is renowned for his southpaw fighting style and relentless gas tank which could give him an edge in this matchup. However, Buckley’s knockout power and superior reach are undeniable threats. This intriguing clash of styles leaves fans wondering who will come out on top. So, who do you think will take the win? Share your thoughts in the comments below!