The UFC finally drew the curtain on 2024 with their flagship Tampa event, which Colby Covington and Joaquin Buckley headlined. As the promotion looks forward to starting the new year on a high note, the situation is pretty worrisome for the former interim welterweight champion who might have sustained permanent damage. ‘Chaos’ wanted to run for the title shot after Saturday, but it appears that the fighter may have to tend to his injuries as newly released footage shows a doctor worrying about Covington after the eyelid injury.

Covington came back to the Octagon a year after inactivity, and it was clearly evident that he struggled inside the Octagon against ‘New Mansa’, who has been pretty active recently. Ahead of the match, Chael Sonnen, who was in Covington’s corner, asserted that they would wrestle with ‘New Mansa’, “Buckley is one of these guys where he would give you openings. He’s got to be crowding you. He doesn’t do as great of a job backing up,” said Sonnen. However, things took a dark turn as the St. Louis, Missouri resident, threw a solid right hand that sealed the game right there for him.

As the blood flowed down his cheeks from his eye in the second round, the doctors had to intervene in the third round to check Colby Covington’s condition, as it appeared that the fighter was struggling to even walk straight. After checking the eyelid, the physician asserted Covington would “lose the eyelid” if he was allowed to continue competing.

The physician advised the referee that the eye was already having problems due to the injury and in addition to that the eyelid was already hanging downwards. She further added, “You see how it’s cut open?” As soon as those words came up, the referee took no chance and halted the match as they awarded the victory to Buckley by way of doctor stoppage/TKO.

Covington seemed visibly dissatisfied with the decision. The crowd had a divided reaction to the result, and his opponent showed little enthusiasm in celebrating, marking a disappointing end to what had otherwise been an outstanding year for the UFC. According to many within the community, the doctor stoppage was too early as Covington could have fought more. Regardless, even the UFC head honcho, Dana White believes that the stoppage was unnecessary.

Dana White’s not happy with Colby Covington’s doctor stoppage

Colby Covington might remember Joaquin Buckley for years to come as the scars of the battle might not go so easily. The uppercut in the first round followed by a barrage of jabs, crosses, and hooks made it difficult for ‘Chaos’ to continue fighting and as the fight stopped, Covington might have taken a sigh of relief but he was not satisfied with the result. The MMA world has seen some of the most brutal and gruesome injuries in the sport and they believe that Covington could have fought more. Interestingly, even Dana White believes the same.

While having a conversation with the media at the post-fight press conference, Dana White asserted that the fight could have carried on if they had been at Las Vegas, “No doubt that was a bad cut but that fight doesn’t get stopped in Vegas. That fight keeps going in Vegas. 100 percent.” Furthermore, the UFC head honcho gave his take on Covington’s performance, “Listen, Colby’s an older guy that fights every once in a while.”

He further added, “He’s always durable, and he’s always tough, like I just said. Did you hear the body shots he was getting hit with tonight? And the headshots he took? That stuff would have stopped other guys. Colby’s tough, but I also feel like Colby wasn’t too pissed that fight got stopped by the cut. The cut was definitely bothering him.”

The promotion might give a long break to the former interim welterweight champion before giving him a fight again. Regardless, what are your thoughts on UFC Tampa? State your thoughts in the comments below.