UFC’s 2024 Finale: Covington vs. Buckley in Tampa
Joaquin Buckley defeated Colby Covington by TKO after a doctor’s stoppage at 4:42 of Round 3 in the Dec. 14, 2024 main event in Tampa. The result closed the promotion’s 2024 schedule and gave Buckley his fourth victory of 2024.
The referee halted the bout so the ringside doctor could examine Covington, whose cut was bleeding heavily. The official event results list the finish at 4:42 of the third round.
The undercard also produced two stoppages on the main card: Cub Swanson knocked out Billy Quarantillo at 1:36 of Round 3, and Manel Kape stopped Bruno Silva at 1:57 of Round 3. The complete official results include the rest of the Tampa card.
Buckley’s year at welterweight
The Covington result completed an unbeaten four-fight year for Buckley. Earlier in 2024, he had stopped Vicente Luque, defeated Nursulton Ruziboev by unanimous decision and knocked out Stephen Thompson. Tampa added another established welterweight name to that sequence and brought his winning run since moving to the division to six bouts.
The setting also marked the UFC’s first Tampa event since 2019. Amalie Arena hosted the final card of the year, with the main event closing an evening that included multiple late finishes. For Buckley, it was an opportunity to turn a successful campaign into a significant result against a former title challenger.
Other finishes on the finale card
Dustin Jacoby also scored a third-round knockout, stopping Vitor Petrino with a right hand at 3:44. Earlier, Joel Álvarez finished Drakkar Klose at 2:48 of the opening round. Those outcomes broaden the event’s story beyond the headliner and the Swanson and Kape victories.
The embedded UFC Journey segment provides the original buildup to Covington versus Buckley. The recorded results supply the conclusion, placing that preview within the completed December 2024 event.
