UFC Tampa Start Time, Full Fight Card Details

12/14/2024 10:29 AM

ARE YOU READY?!?!

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will tie a ribbon around 2024 with its final event of the year, as UFC Tampa goes down later TONIGHT (Sat., Dec. 14, 2024) inside Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Headlining the ESPN+-streamed event is Welterweight showdown between former interim champion, Colby Covington, and knockout artist, Joaquin Buckley. In the re-worked co-main event, Cub Swanson will battle Billy Quarantillo in a fun 145-pound showdown.

What's Hot:

It's safe to say Covington has lost his fastball. It's thanks in large part because he has been very quiet over the last few months, even after his boy, Donald Trump, won the presidential election. We've grown accustomed to seeing "Chaos" insert himself anywhere he has the chance to, but he hasn't been as vocal as he was earlier on in his career, a tactic that helped him steal the spotlight (maybe he forgot who he was). Also, he hasn't competed in more than one year, with his last appearance coming against former 170-pound champion, Leon Edwards, in Dec. 2023. And, let's not forget that he is just 2-3 in his last five fights so that could be a good reason he isn't the same Covington of old. That said, he brought some of that back during fight week. He will have a chance to assert himself back into the mix with a win in Tampa because he is still ranked No. 6 and a victory here could put him back into the Top 5.

Buckley, meanwhile, has really come into his own over the last few years, racking up five straight wins in the last 18 months after suffering back-to-back losses to Chris Curtis and Nassourdine Imavov. During his recent winning run, he knocked outStephen Thompson, Vicente LuqueandAndre Fialho. Currently holding down the No. 9 spot, he, too, is looking to crash the Top 5. And a win over a former champion could be the ticket to get him there. Covington obviously has the wrestling advantage, and he isn't a spring chicken when it comes to the striking department. That said, Buckley has major power in both of his hands — and feet — and he can turn anyone's light's out if they choose to go toe-to-toe with him. A weapon Covington has to his advantage, however, is his pace and cardio, which is infamous for tiring out his opponents. That means Buckley will have to get to work early and often because once it goes to the championship rounds, Covington has the advantage. This should be a great stylistic matchup.

What's Not:

Again, placement on fight cards seems to be a thing of the past — for the most part — but I have an issue with a Lightweight bout between Drakkar Klose vs. Joel Alvarez not getting a spot on the main card over newcomer Navajo Stirling vs. Tuco Tokkos. Alvarez is 6-1 in his last seven fights, while Klose is on a four-fight win streak and is 7-1 in his last eight. This fight belongs on the main card over a newbie and a man coming of a loss in his UFC debut, plain and simple.

Original Card Vs. Actual Card:

Buckley was originally slated to face Ian Garry in the headliner before UFC officials yanked the Irish talent from the event to face Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310. The co-main event was initially set to feature a rematch between Amanda Ribas vs. Mackenzie Dernbefore it was moved to headline UFC Vegas 101 on Sat., Jan 11, 2025, from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Injuries:

A Bantamweight bout between Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Song Yadong was originally reported to headline the event before Yadong bowed out of the event with an undisclosed injury. It worked out better for Nurmagomedov because he will now have the chance to fight for the division title against champion Merab Dvalishviliin early 2025.Tracy Cortez was forced out of the event because of an undisclosed health issue, and she was replaced by Jamey-Lyn Horth against Miranda Maverick, who is 5-1 in her last six fights. As for Horth, the former Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) champion is coming off a split decision win over Ivana Petrovic. Also, a 135-pound bout between Said Nurmagomedov vs. Daniel Marcos was scrapped after Nurmagomedov withdrew for unknown reasons and was replaced by Adrian Yanez, who is coming off a first round knockout win over Vinicius Salvador. Prior to that, he was on a two-fight losing streak. As for Marcos, he is undefeated (16-0), which includes going 3-0-1 inside the Octagon.

New Blood:

Stirling will be the lone newcomer at this event, as the undefeated (5-0) Light Heavyweight will make his debut against Tokkos. Stirling earned his spot on the roster thanks to a first round knockout win on Contender Series, which was his fourth straight stoppage win. As for Tokkos, he fell flat in his own UFC debut, losing to Oumar Syvia first round submission earlier this year.

How The 'Prelims' Look:

After starting off his career perfect (13-0), Ottman Azaitar has lost his last two fights, and will now attempt to get back on track when he battles long-time veteran, Michael Johnson, who is coming off a unanimous decision win over Darrius Flowers.

Sean Woodson has very quietly gone 6-1-1 inside the Octagon in the five years he's been fighting for the promotion. His opponent, Fernando Padilla, is 4-1-1 in his last six, 2-1 under UFC's banner. Both men are out to get a big win to attempt to carve a space out for themselves in the crowded Featherweight division.

Winner of 12 straight fights, Felipe Silva will look to make it two-for-two inside the Octagon when he takes on Miles Johns in a 145-pound showdown. Silva made his successful UFC debut earlier this year, and now "Jungle Boy" looks to keep his momentum going against "Chapo," who is a respectable 5-2-1 in the five years he has been with the promotion.

Davey Grant had his two-fight win streak snapped in his previous fight at the hands of Daniel Marcos earlier this year, losing a razor-thin split decision. Ramon Taveras, meanwhile, is off to fine start in his UFC journey, winning his debut fight against Serhiy Sidey via split decision. The Contender Series product has now won six of his last seven fights.

Kicking off tonight's action will be Josefine Knutsson facing off against Piera Rodriguez in a women's Strawweight fight. Knuttsson has an immaculate record of 8-0, 2-0 UFC. As for Rodriguez, she is looking to snap her two-fight losing streak.

Who Needs A Win Badly:

Dustin Jacoby is currently riding a two-fight losing streak coming into his 205-pound matchup against Vitor Petrino. Going back a bit further, Jacoby has lost four of his last five fights inside the Octagon, putting him in a must-win situation in Tampa. As for Petrino, even though he is coming off a loss to Anthony Smith, he has more breathing room because that was the first defeat of his career.

Interest Level: 6/10

Swanson has alternated wins and losses over the last four years, which has been good enough for the promotion to keep the 13-year veteran around. He likely will never be in title contention at this point in his career, but he still wants to prove he has plenty left in the tank. Quarantillo, like Swanson, has also been alternating wins and losses to the tune of a 3-4 record since 2020.

After kicking off his UFC career with two straight defeats, Manel Kape went on to win four in a row before having his momentum stopped by Muhammad Mokaev this past summer. "Starboy" will attempt to get back on the right foot when he goes toe-to-toe against Bruno Silva, who is currently on a four-fight win streak, which he's racked up in the span of nearly four years.

Adrian Yanez finally snapped his funk and got back into the win column with a huge win over Vinicius Salvador, knocking him out in the very first round this past summer. Daniel Marcos, on the other hand, is perfect so far in his MMA career (16-0), including going 3-0-1 under UFC's banner. "Soncora" — who is fighting out of Peru — isn't about to let up now because a few more big wins and he can really start to make a name for himself.

Enjoy the fights!

Full UFC Tampa Fight Card:

UFC Tampa Main Event On ESPN2/ESPN+:

170 lbs.: Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley

UFC Tampa Main Card on ESPN2/ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET):

115 lbs.: Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas — (now UFC Vegas 101's main event)
145 lbs.: Cub Swanson vs. Billy Quarantillo
125 lbs.: Manel Kape vs. Bruno Silva
205 lbs.: Vitor Petrino vs. Dustin Jacoby
135 lbs.: Adrian Yanez vs. Daniel Marcos
205 lbs.: Navajo Stirling vs. Tuco Tokkos

UFC Tampa 'Prelims' Card on ESPN2/ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET):

155 lbs.: Michael Johnson vs. Ottman Azaitar
155 lbs.: Joel Alvarez vs. Drakkar Klose
145 lbs.: Sean Woodson vs. Fernando Padilla
145 lbs.: Miles Johns vs. Felipe Silva
125 lbs.: Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Miranda Maverick
135 lbs.: Davey Grant vs. Ramon Taveras
115 lbs.: Josefine Knutsson vs. Piera Rodriguez

*Fight card, bout order and amount of fights remain subject to change.*

Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Tampa fight card right here, starting with the ESPN2/ESPN+ "Prelims" matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN2/ESPN+).

To check out the latest and greatest UFC Tampa: "Covington vs. Buckley" news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.