UFC 310 might still be in our immediate rear-view mirror, but MMA fans around the world are already looking ahead to next week’s event, i.e., the final card of the year out in Tampa, Florida.
The last UFC event of 2024 will feature a pair of outspoken welterweights in the main event, with promotional veteran and former title challenger Gilbert Burns now sharing his thoughts on the matchup.
Gilbert Burns shares his thoughts on UFC Tampa: Covington vs Buckley main event
The two welterweights headlining UFC Tampa, former interim champion Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington and surging contender Joaquin ‘New Mansa’ Buckley, couldn’t be further from one another in terms of form.
On the one hand, Buckley is riding a five-fight win streak, including three big victories already this year, whilst Covington is 2-2 in his last four and hasn’t competed in exactly 12 months.
Gilbert ‘Durinho’ Burns is someone who knows both fighters and their skillsets pretty well, with the popular Brazilian speaking to Submission Radio about the incoming showdown in his home state.
“I think Buckley’s in the best momentum right now but [wrestling], that’s Buckley’s kryptonite – one of my favorite teammates is Logan Storley, interim Bellator champ, he fought Buckley and Logan just out-wrestled him.
“He just took him down, beat him up on the ground, took him down again, beat him up with ground-and-pound – and that’s something that Colby can really do.”
Burns is in regular contact with the trainers at MMA Masters, Covington’s home gym, and according to the Brazilian, there are very few athletes who can match Chaos’ work ethic.
“Colby’s always in training, I know those guys from MMA Masters, they say that he’s always in the gym, always training and always in shape… I think Colby might give a lot of problems to Buckley, keep taking him down with that crazy pace.
“Buckley’s a big guy with a lot of muscle, if Buckley cannot put Colby out of there in the first or second round, I think Colby will overwhelm him and beat him up – Colby can get a dominant decision win, or Buckley gets a quick knockout in the first.”
At the time of writing, Buckley is the moderate favorite with 75% of Tapology Community Picks going in favor of ‘New Mansa’.
Whilst Burns noted that he’ll be rooting for Buckley on December 14, he ultimately predicted that – if his coaches are telling the truth – Covington can ‘100%’ get the victory.
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UFC Tampa: Covington vs Buckley rounds out 2024 for the promotion
UFC Tampa represents the final event of 2024 for the global MMA leader, with a total of 13 fights set to round out the year in style.
Barring any last-minute changes or fight cancelations, the Floridian send-off will feature the following bouts.
- Colby Covington vs Joaquin Buckley
- Cub Swanson vs Billy Quarantillo
- Manel Kape vs Bruno Silva
- Dustin Jacoby vs Vitor Petrino
- Daniel Marcos vs Adrian Yanez
- Navajo Stirling vs Tuco Tukkos
- Michael Johnson vs Ottman Azaitar
- Drakkar Klose vs Joel Alvarez
- Sean Woodson vs Fernando Padilla
- Miles Johns vs Felipe Lima
- Miranda Maverick vs Jamey Lyn-Horth
- Davey Grant vs Ramon Taveras
- Piera Rodriguez vs Josefine Knutsson
UFC Tampa: Covington vs Buckley takes place on Saturday, December 14 from 7 PM ET.
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