UFC is known for the extravagant events that Dana White organizes and, in 2024 alone, the promotion broke many gate records, especially at UFC 306 or UFC Noche that earned $21 million at the gate. It happened at The Sphere in Las Vegas which was a pretty big deal, since it was the first combat sports event to be held at the venue built in 2023. Now that UFC 310 ended well albeit with a significantly lesser gate revenue, and with its share of controversy and sensational incidents, UFC fans are already looking forward to the last UFC event of 2024 that will feature Colby Covington against Joaquin Buckley.

The last UFC fight card of 2024 will feature this pair of outspoken welterweights in the main event and Joaquin Buckley has already spoken up. He mentioned the bait that Dana White might have laid for ‘Chaos’ to have taken this fight.

Joaquin Buckley exposed Colby Covington’s reason for taking this fight

While speaking to Inside Fighting, the UFC welterweight prospect broke down his upcoming fight against Covington at UFC Tampa. He also spoke about why his opponent might have chosen to fight him. ‘New Mansa’ said, “You know already that the UFC’s pocket is real big. You heard me so you know. So, they probably gave him an extra something, something to take this fight. When I see that he wants to fight guys like Paddy Pimblett, when he wants to fight guys like Dustin Poirier, or Islam Makhachev – like, it’s just like those types of matches don’t make any sense.”

He mentioned how the fighters Covington is challenging are not from the welterweight category so it does not make sense. The American fighter has indeed called out Pimblett and even Khamzat Chimaev for a fight.

Meanwhile, Covington’s fierce rival on social media Ian Garry gave his thoughts on the upcoming Covington vs. Buckley fight. ‘The Future’ who lost to his former teammate Shavkat Rakhmonov, despite an incredible showing at UFC 310, had a special request for Colby Covington’s UFC Tampa opponent.

Ian Garry begs Joaquin Buckley to sleep Colby Covington

In a recent Instagram video, Ian Garry said he had waited for Covington for almost a year but the former welterweight interim champion never obliged him, despite issuing scathing attacks towards the Irishman and his wife Layla Anna-Lee. Now, since he can’t get his hands on the brash Florida-based fighter, he’s vouching for Joaquin Buckley to finish Colby Covington at the December 14th event. Reacting to the official UFC Tampa poster featuring the headliner fighters, ‘The Future’ said, “This shows that this c**t is ducking me. He has been ducking me for 7-8 months. I signed on for the baddest man in the division and this guy comes out of the shadows. He is a pu**y, he is a bi**h. And one day I will get my hands on him.”

He further added, “Joaquin Buckley, I am behind you 100% of the way go out and put that man to sleep. Please, and thank you. Do it for me”. Covington and Garry have been locked in an ugly feud (much like other feuds Covington has found himself in) for many months now. ‘The Future’ didn’t hold back against ‘Chaos’ when a media member asked him about the latter at the UFC 310 pre-fight press conference, “Where is he now? Where has he been for the last 8 months? He’s been f***ing running since that last day he met me. He’s been running since that day. Colby Covington is afraid of me, right? He will never, in his life, stand in the Octagon with me and face his fears.”

What do you think? Will the Irishman ever get his hands on Colby Covington? Furthermore, do you think Covington wins against Joaquin Buckley on Saturday, or will ‘New Mansa’ put ‘Chaos’ to sleep as per Ian Garry‘s request? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.