Colby Covington, UFC Tampa ceremonial weigh-ins on the Amalie Area, Dec. 13, 2024 Credit score: Jay Anderson/Cageside Press
UFC Tampa, the ultimate card for the promotion for 2024, delivered in almost each measurable means. Seven of the 13 fights led to finishes together with 4 of the fights on the six-fight fundamental card. In the principle occasion, Joaquin Buckley defeated Colby Covington, seemingly signaling the top of ‘Chaos’ run with the elites of the welterweight division. And within the co-main occasion, 41-year-old Cub Swanson had a classic exhibiting in his Struggle of the Evening efficiency as he stopped Billy Quarantillo late within the third spherical.
Heading into 2025, the place will the shedding facet of the cardboard go? Let’s perform a little matchmaking.
Colby Covington
Joaquin Buckley styled on Colby Covington for 3 rounds in the principle occasion of UFC Tampa earlier than the combat was stopped attributable to a lower above Colby’s eye. Covington entered the combat ranked generously at #6 within the welterweight division whereas Buckley was ranked at #9. Covington has now misplaced three of his final 4 fights and never competed greater than as soon as in a calendar 12 months since 2019.
That ought to seemingly be it for Covington with favorable fights on the prime of the division. Colby ought to draw somebody exterior of the highest 10 if not somebody of the perimeter of being ranked. A matchup with Stephen Thompson would match the invoice completely. Wonderboy has additionally misplaced three of his final 4 fights and is at present ranked at #11. Stephen’s final combat was additionally towards Buckley, and he was additionally stopped, again in October. Traditional striker versus grappler matchup for 2 ageing former welterweight title contenders. The winner of that combat can be able to name for what they wished, inside cause, perhaps a crack on the prime ten.
Colby’s subsequent combat: Stephen Thompson
Billy Quarantillo
Billy Quarantillo put up a gutsy efficiency earlier than getting starched late within the remaining spherical of his combat with Cub Swanson. The barn burner of a combat received Struggle of the Evening honors, which is uncommon for a combat that didn’t go the space.
Quarantillo regarded good till he didn’t, and it was a enjoyable combat, so the loss doesn’t damage his inventory an excessive amount of. Nonetheless, Billy has misplaced three of his final 4 fights all by stoppage.
Transferring ahead, Billy Q. ought to combat Gabriel Miranda in his subsequent combat. Miranda and Quarantillo had been scheduled to combat one another in March earlier than Miranda withdrew. Gabriel went on to combat Morgan Charriere on UFC Paris fundamental card in September. Charriere would earn a efficiency bonus that night time for his KO of Miranda. So let’s rebook two fighters brutally stopped of their final fights, which can be nearly at all times in thrilling fights that always don’t go the space.
Billy’s subsequent combat: Gabriel Miranda
Bruno Silva
Bruno Silva was outclassed by Manel Kape in a 3 spherical combat at UFC Tampa that noticed him stopped within the remaining spherical. Silva put up a gutsy efficiency, nevertheless it undoubtedly marked the arrival of 1 Manel Kape. Bruno entered the combat ranked at #12 within the UFC’s flyweight division whereas his opponent was ranked at #9.
Silva ought to get some one other hanging heavy matchup in his subsequent bout. #15 ranked Joshua Van can be an ideal combat for Silva. Van is 5-1 within the UFC to date solely having misplaced to Charles Johnson in July. Joshua fought at UFC 310 and secured one of many largest victories of his profession by way of a unanimous resolution over Cody Durden. Recognized for his highly effective boxing and aggressive type, Joshua Van would make an ideal opponent for Silva in his subsequent bout.
Bruno’s subsequent combat: Joshua Van
Vitor Petrino
Vitor Petrino suffered one other horrible loss on Saturday night time when Dustin Jacoby flatlined him late of their combat. Petrino has now been completed twice in a row after Anthony Smith choked him out again in Might. To make issues even worse, Petrino is now even farther away from a rating, and that is the primary time he’s ever been KO’d.
Petrino’s subsequent combat needs to be towards the winner of Ibo Aslan vs. Ion Cutelaba. That combat is slated to go down on February 22, 2025. Cutelaba is a tenured UFC vet that has received two of his final three following a three-fight skid. Aslan is a 2023 Contender Collection product who’s 14-1 as a professional and 2-0 within the UFC. He has completed each his opponents together with undefeated, Raffael Cerqueira in his final combat at UFC 308. Both fighter can be a harmful matchup for Petrino and a enjoyable hanging bout to observe for followers. And the winner of the bout would perhaps be a combat away from being ranked particularly if it ends in a stoppage.
Vitor’s subsequent combat: Ibo Aslan vs. Ion Cutelaba winner
Adrian Yanez
Adrian Yanez dropped a detailed cut up resolution to the undefeated Daniel Marcos on the principle card of UFC Tampa on Saturday. Yanez and Marcos placed on a stellar efficiency however in the end Adrian was on the unsuitable facet of the choice. Yanez has now misplaced three of his final 4 fights. It’s been a tricky stretch for the 2020 Contender Collection product who obtained off to a scorching begin with the promotion, scoring 5 wins and bonus in his first 5 appearances.
Yanez is not ranked, and sadly for him, this loss places him additional away from being such. Adrian ought to combat Ricky Simon in his subsequent bout. Ricky has three of his final 4 fights. Simon was final within the cage reverse of Vinicius Oliveira on UFC 303 in June. Simon is a tall activity as he’s sturdy and at all times brings a strong gameplan to his fights. Yanez was near successful towards Marcos and because of his thrilling combat type and potential, he’s a fighter that ought to get multiple likelihood at transferring up.
Adrian’s subsequent combat: Ricky Simon
Tuco Tokkos
Tuco Tokkos was defeated by way of unanimous resolution by the undefeated Navajo Stirling to kick off the UFC Tampa fundamental card. Tokkos misplaced his UFC debut to Oumar Sy in Might when he was submitted by rear bare choke within the first spherical. Despite the fact that gentle heavyweight is shallow within the UFC, Tuco wants a win desperately in his subsequent combat.
Tuco ought to subsequent combat the loser of Magomed Gadzhiyasulov vs. Bruno Lopes. That combat goes down on January the 11, the primary UFC card of 2025. Magomed is an undefeated 9-0, 2023 Contender Collection product. Gadzhiyasulov fought Brendson Ribeiro to a majority attract his promotional debut again in June. Bruno Lopes is 11-1 is a two-time Contender Collection fighter. Lopes misplaced toe Brendson Ribeiro in his first DWCS bout earlier than successful and securing a victory on this previous season towards Mikheil Sazhiniani. All three of those guys have across the identical variety of fights and expertise ranges. The loser of that combat would undoubtedly be in jeopardy of getting lower or preventing for his or her spot on the roster.
Tuco’s subsequent combat: Loser of Magomed Gadzhiyasulov vs. Bruno Lopes
