A pool of blood on the Octagon floor was evidence of Joaquin Buckley’s superiority.
‘New Mantha’ defends Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title fight by stopping Colby Covington from being cut in the third round of the UFC main event at ESPN 63 on Saturday at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida got even closer. At 4:42 into the third round, referee Dan Miragliotta waved off the call on the advice of a cageside doctor.
Covington (17-5, 12-5 UFC), who replaced Ian Garry late in the fight, immediately faced difficulties. Buckley (21-6 UFC, 11-4 UFC) opened the cut on his right eyelid with a brutal uppercut in the first round, and things got heated from there. Power punch combinations and excellent takedown defense paved the way for the most important victory of his career. As time passed, the wound increased in size and depth, and Covington was warned after the second round that the bout was on the verge of being stopped. Buckley continued to aim for cuts, but Miragliotta called a doctor for an examination after the two men separated in an exchange on the ground late in the third round. She advised the veteran referee that Covington was at risk of “losing an eyelid,” resulting in the match being stopped.
Buckley, 30, has won six straight fights, four of which have been finishes.
Meanwhile, World Extreme Cagefighting holdover Cub Swanson hinted at possible retirement after punching away Billy Quarantillo in the third round of the featherweight co-headliner. Quarantillo (18-7, 6-5 UFC) was eliminated 1:36 into round three, suffering his third loss in four fights.
The 41-year-old Swanson (30-14, 15-10 UFC) kept the former King of the Cage champion going throughout most of the first round with powerful leg kicks and right hands over the top. Ta. But Quarantillo, known for his durability, regrouped at the corner and came out in midfield with renewed vigor and determination. He focused his punches on Swanson, secured takedowns, and racked up points in the clinch with everything from hammerfists to strikes to the thighs and shoulders, short punches and foot stomps. Going into the third round, the outcome remained in doubt. Swanson dug his heels in and landed a left hook, followed by a hard right cross to finish off the “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 22 alum. No follow-up shots were required.
Swanson has won five of his past eight games.
Further down the main card, former RIZIN Fighting Federation champion Manel Kape finished off Bruno Silva with a body kick and follow-up punches in the third round of their flyweight showcase. Silva (14-6-2, 4-3 UFC) succumbed to the blows 1:57 into the third round, ending his winning streak at four.
Kape (20-7, 5-3 UFC) delivered blindingly fast combinations from both hands, surviving three low blows and using the final blow to send his American Top Team-trained opponent into the second round. gave points. Silva became increasingly desperate towards the end, vulnerable and defenseless against a man with breathtaking fast-twitch athleticism. About 90 seconds into the third round, Kape landed a kick to the body that replays showed may have deflected south of the border, sending the Brazilian back. From there, he stepped on the gas and eased off with power punches, forcing Silva to sit at the base of the fence and force a stop.
Cape, 31, has won five of his past six fights.
Elsewhere, Factory X standout Dustin Jacoby defeated 2022 Dana White Contender Series graduate Vitor Petrino in the third round of a light heavyweight bout. Jacoby (20-9-1, 8-6-1 UFC) bounced back from back-to-back losses to Alonzo Menifield and Dominick Reyes to end the third round at 3:44.
Power issues plagued both riders until the finish. Jacoby blocked a flying knee late in the third round to reset and trap the Brazilian. He delivered a lightning right cross that nearly upset Petrino (11-2, 4-2 UFC) and sent Petrino crashing to the canvas. Jacoby secretly filmed a few more shots of the unconscious CM System export before a suspension was declared.
This was Jacoby’s first three-round finish in his 30-fight career.
At the end of a draw, American Combat Gym’s undefeated Daniel Marcos defeated Adrian Yanez by split decision in a heated three-round bantamweight bout. Judges Derek Cleary and Eric Colon gave Marcos scores of 30-27 and 29-28, while Judge Chris Lee gave Yanez a score of 29-28.
It was a well-played match characterized by bouts and bouts, with neither side able to build much of a lead. Marcos (17-0, 4-0 UFC) relied on a combination of clubbing overhand rights, leg kicks and sweeping hooks from both hands. Yanez (17-6, 6-3 UFC), an impromptu replacement for Said Nurmagomedov, landed the most decisive blow of the bout — countering the former 300 Spartan champion with his left in the second round. He was knocked down with a hook, but the entire team, who failed to pull the string, displayed enough offensive power to completely turn the tide in his favor. Marcos surprised the Eve Edwards protégé with two takedowns in the third round, spending valuable overtime and holding his own in a stand-up fight.
Yanez, 31, has lost three of his past four fights.
Finally, City Kickboxing’s undefeated rising prospect Navajo Sterling kept his perfect professional record intact by defeating George Tokkos by unanimous decision in three rounds in the light heavyweight appetizer. All three cageside judges scored it 30-27 for Sterling (6-0, 1-0 UFC).
Toccos (10-5, 0-2 UFC) was limited on his feet and was unable to string together successful takedowns with damage or control. Sterling applied constant pressure from the center of the cage, attacking the body with punches and kicks, slowly but surely wearing down the Kill Cliff Fight Club rep. Tokkos ran out of gas in the third round. There, Sterling blocked takedown attempts and pummeled him with multi-striking combinations that were often punctuated by shocking kicks to the head, arms, and body.
It was Tokkos’ first decision loss in more than five years.
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