UFC closed out a thrilling year with its final event in Tampa, though for Colby Covington, 2024 may not have ended on the high note he was hoping for. As the promotion turns its focus to 2025, even ‘Chaos’ might want to erase his outing against Joaquin Buckley from memory.

The Oregon native was forced into a TKO doctor’s stoppage in Round 3 against the #9 welterweight. Covington, who is known for his toughness, suffered a significant amount of blood loss, leaving him with little chance to continue. UFC pundits, including Michael Bisping, did not hold back, offering some tough love and hard-hitting truths about Covington’s performance and what it means for his future in the sport.

Michael Bisping reveals the inescapable reality for Covington

UFC legend and analyst Michael Bisping broke down the events of UFC Tampa, offering an insightful analysis of what went wrong for Covington in his fight against Buckley. Bisping noted that Buckley essentially got down to the task of “hulking” Covington, delivering an eye-splitting blow that left the Oregon native struggling in the Octagon.

‘Chaos’, who had been out of action for more than a year, appeared to feel the effects of his long layoff, as he struggled to find his rhythm and defense against the powerful Buckley. The turning point came in Round 2 when Buckley landed a solid right hand that caused a huge gash on Covington’s eyebrow. Blood poured down from his eye, and though Covington fought through the pain, it became clear that the damage was too much to continue. In the third round, the fight was halted when the doctor determined the cut on Covington’s eyelid was too severe for him to safely continue.

Bisping, ever the straight shooter, praised Covington’s heart and determination, acknowledging that he stepped up on short notice to defend his spot and show that he was willing to face rising contenders. However, Bisping also expressed concern for Covington, stating, “Colby Covington, fair play, I respect him. He stepped up on short notice, wanted to defend his spot, wanted to prove that he’s willing to take on young up-and-coming contenders. But tonight was not his night.”

Bisping pointed out that the former interim 170lbs champ was not in his prime form during this fight. He added, “He was not good enough; he wasn’t quick enough. He wasn’t powerful enough with the wrestling Joaquin Buckley just kind of picked him apart, busted him up early, and opened up a cut right on that eyelid, we’ll get to that in a little bit because that is what stopped the fight, but it was a really good performance now granted Colby Covington as the fight was going on, he was having more success with the wrestling but his face was a mess and was getting pieced up by Joaquin Buckley.”

After analyzing what transpired with Covington, Bisping pointed out that Covington should have been more cautious against his opponent. He emphasized that ‘New Mansa’ is a highly dangerous fighter. ‘The Count’ added, “Buckley is a powerful man and he is a bad motherfuc*** for he’s been in a mood all week. He’s had a real chip on his shoulder and he uses that to fuel himself, ok? Some people don’t necessarily want that negative energy but Joaquin Buckley listens, all day long the negative energy whatever you wanna call it, the man’s getting results inside the octagon he is working his a** off he stopped most of the takedowns tonight.”

Once Covington’s eyelid began oozing blood, Joaquin Buckley seized the opportunity, targeting the cut with precision and landing more strikes in the second round. The relentless assault put Covington in a vulnerable position, and referee Dan Miragliotta had no choice but to intervene. The doctor was called in to assess the severity of the injury, ultimately leading to the stoppage. The doctor’s decision was made to protect Covington’s well-being, ensuring that he wouldn’t suffer further harm.

The ringside doctor declared that Covington could lose his eyelid

The doctor’s decision to stop the fight after Round 3 was a precautionary measure, as the cut on Covington’s eyelid posed a serious risk of long-term damage, potentially even threatening the loss of his eyelid. MMA journalist Aaron Bronsteter explained the gravity of the situation, noting that cuts in such sensitive areas are particularly dangerous. “The placement of the cut is why the doctor stopped the fight. Cuts below the eyebrow/on the eyelid are particularly dangerous and can have long-term implications,” Bronsteter wrote on his X account.

This is certainly not how Covington envisioned his year ending. He had kissed his lucky Donald Trump necklace before entering the octagon, hoping to secure a win. However, the reality was far from what he anticipated, and his road to victory seems further away for now. As for Buckley, despite his victory, he seemed displeased with the outcome. He didn’t want the fight stopped and expressed his frustration during the post-fight press conference. “I feel like my fight, you know, shouldn’t have been stopped but you know, it is what it is… You’ve got to protect the fighters,” he said, storming off afterward.

So, what’s next for Covington? The future remains uncertain. His reputation is one of both resilience and controversy, but after this loss, questions about his readiness for another title shot or future matchups loom. What do you think Covington’s next steps will be?