Colby Covington vs Joaquin Buckley: Bloody Elbow predictions present workers are divided on UFC Tampa foremost occasion

A welterweight bout with title implications is about to headline UFC Tampa on Saturday night time.

Former interim champion Colby Covington will look to get himself again into rivalry in his first struggle again since falling to a lopsided decision defeat against Leon Edwards once they clashed for UFC gold final December.

Joaquin Buckley was initially presupposed to headline in opposition to Ian Machado Garry, however the Irishman ended up taking a short-notice bout in opposition to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310.

Now Covington has stepped in and supplied him with the possibility to choose up a career-best win.

• READ MORE: Colby Covington attacks LeBron James, Jon Jones, Khamzat Chimaev, and more in wild rant ahead of UFC Tampa

Bloody Elbow workers predict UFC Tampa foremost occasion

Jordan Ellis: “I feel we’re going to see the passing of the guard at UFC Tampa. Colby Covington’s wrestling recreation remains to be ok to get him the choice in opposition to a bunch of prime welterweights – however Joaquin Buckley will not be one among them. I’ve solely been impressed by ‘New Mansa’ at 170lbs, so I merely can’t again in opposition to him on this one.”

Prediction: Joaquin Buckley by KO

Donagh Corby: “It’s an enchanting expertise matchup between Colby Covington and Joaquin Buckley on Saturday night time. The sensible guess could be a five-round Covington determination the place he wrestles and dominates, however there are a selection of things that make this powerful to choose. Specifically the mixture of Buckley’s skill to discover a massive concussive shot and Covington’s questionable chin. This jogs my memory of the Deontay Wilder fights of outdated, and I’ll all the time decide the safer guess in these sorts of bouts.”

Prediction: Colby Covington by determination.

Jamie Theodosi: “Though Colby Covington has been regressing for some time now, he wouldn’t have taken this struggle if he didn’t see a transparent path to victory. Joaquin Buckley is the way more athletic fighter and higher striker, nonetheless, I feel Covington may find yourself controlling this struggle in opposition to the cage for almost all of the 25 minutes.”

Prediction: Colby Covington by determination.

James Sweetnam: “Joaquin Buckley ought to go into his match-up with Colby Covington as an enormous favourite. In spite of everything, he’s received his final 5, in comparison with ‘Chaos’, who’s coming off a complete loss to Leon Edwards. Nevertheless, with such a colossal defeat weighing him down, the polarizing character is aware of he must carry out, or threat being eradicated from the title image ceaselessly. Subsequently, assuming he nonetheless has one thing left within the tank, I’m going to again Covington to get the job carried out on factors.

Prediction: Colby Covington by determination.

Tom Llewellyn: “While Colby Covington claims that his year-long UFC absence has solely served to gas his need to wrestle again management of the welterweight title, the hearth burning inside ‘New Mansa’ has been burning far brighter and way more intensely of late. Since dropping right down to 170lbs, Joaquin Buckley has left a number of UFC legends asleep on the canvas; and I predict that the Missouri native will add the previous interim champion to that checklist come Sunday morning – Joaquin Buckley by way of a MAGA-nificent KO.

Prediction: Joaquin Buckley by KO

Curtis Calhoun: “Colby Covington will make the most of a cautious strategy early in response to Buckley’s explosiveness on the toes. In Spherical 2, Covington will discover his timing along with his wrestling and start to manage Joaquin Buckley and cease his advances. Whereas Buckley will rally late with some massive strikes, Covington will get the nod on the scorecards and squeak out a victory.”

Prediction: Colby Covington by determination

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