UFC CEO Dana White has concluded another eventful year with the UFC Tampa on Saturday night. After the fights wrapped up at Amalie Arena in St. Petersburg, FL, White met with the media for the final post-fight press conference before the three-week break for the holidays.
In the main event at UFC Tampa, No. 6 contender Colby Covington made his entrance accompanied by Hulk Hogan, switching up his usual walkout music to Hogan’s famous track, Real American. Chael Sonnen, a legend in MMA, was in Covington’s corner for the fight against No. 9 contender Joaquin Buckley at the Tampa Bay Lightning’s home rink.
Covington’s Cut and Dana White’s Response
During the fight, the doctor warned Covington about a cut on his eyelid that could potentially end the bout if it worsened. In the third round, Buckley dropped Covington, prompting the doctor to advise referee Dan Miragliotta to wave off the contest due to the cut.
Due to a Doctor’s Stoppage Joaquin Buckley wins by TKO. #UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/rj6iEjNFkK
— UFC (@ufc) December 15, 2024
White mentioned in the press conference that Covington handled the result of the fight well and that the cut was clearly bothering him during the bout.
White’s Continued Remarks
White emphasized that the cut was a significant issue for Covington, and he believes the fight wouldn’t have been stopped if it had taken place in Vegas instead of Florida.
Sonnen Ready to Step In
Chael Sonnen, Covington’s cornerman, discussed the fight on his YouTube channel, revealing that he was prepared to stop the fight to prevent further damage to Covington.
Later in the video, Sonnen expressed his intention to save Covington from further harm and discussed how tough both fighters were during the bout.
Final Thoughts
White noted that Covington seemed relatively calm about the fight being stopped due to the cut, hinting at a possible change in Covington’s demeanor. Whether this indicates a new direction for Covington remains to be seen.
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