Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley 12/14/24 – At UFC on ESPN 63, the welterweight Division will witness another barnburner which is between Colby Covington and Joaquin Buckley. Covington with an experience of 17-4-0 professionally, known as Chaos and Buckley who has a tally of 20-6-0, widely referred to as New Mansa, would be looking to strengthen their promising records. All in all, this fight is not only one which celebrates their abilities, but furthermore translates into an exciting stylistic battlefield.
Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley 12/14/24
| When: | Saturday, December 14, 2024 | Time: 10:00 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida, USA |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
| Stream: | UFC Fight Pass |
The betting odds were such that Joaquin Buckley was the fan favorite with a -175 moneyline, and it was supposed that he had an easier time of winning against Colby Covington who had a +150. This betting suggests that the competition was stiff but most possible there was focusing on Buckley owing to his performance within the octagon. Buckley’s striking advantage notwithstanding, some bettors might find it wise to bet on Covington as the underdog based on his ability to weather storms and tactical grappling.
Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley 12/14/24 Odds
| Fighter | Odds | Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colby Covington | +150 | Joaquin Buckley | -175 |
Main Card
Colby Covington
Colby Covington has carved out a niche for himself as a strong fighter able to wrestle and has an average of 3.79 takedowns every 15 minutes throughout the fight indicating that he seeks to engage more on the ground. Even though it is not his forte, his punching is sufficient to support his grappling with him averaging 3.88 significant strikes per minute at a 38% accuracy. After the fight, he had with Edwards where he lost, it was clear he had weaknesses that needed to be worked on especially striking defense which is key as he prepares to face Buckley. How effective he is at controlling the movement and area of the fight will be very important especially considering that he is fighting a striker in Buckley.
Joaquin Buckley
On the contrary, Joaquin Buckley has a different set of strengths which he brings to the equation. He is a southpaw and has a slight reach advantage, which makes his striking quite troublesome for orthodox fighters such as Covington. He lands on average of 4.13 significant strikes every three minutes at a frequency of 36% while also absorbing 3.20 strikes every minute which gives a more aggressive and risky approach in comparison to Covington’s style. Buckley’s last fight against Thompson was a demonstration of his raw knockout power and how well he can control fighters who are good at striking. However, his grappling defense and takedown defense are good and effective at 69%. However, he will be tested against a wrestler of Covington’s caliber.
Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley Betting Numbers
| Record | 17-4-0 | 20-6-0 |
| Last Fight | USA | USA |
| Country | Loss | Win |
| Height | 5′ 11″ | 5′ 10″ |
| Weight (lbs) | 170 | 170 |
| Reach (in) | 72″ | 76″ |
| Win by KO/TKO | 24% | 70% |
| Win by Submission | 24% | 0% |
| Decisions | 53% | 30% |
| Strikes landed per minute | 3.88 | 4.13 |
| Striking accuracy | 38% | 36% |
| Striking absorbed per minute | 2.98 | 3.20 |
| Striking defense | 55% | 57% |
| Takedown average | 3.79 | 1.96 |
| Takedown accuracy | 44% | 46% |
| Takedown defense | 67% | 69% |
| Submission average | 0.2 | 0.0 |
Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley Summary
This upcoming bout between Colby Covington and Joaquin Buckley at UFC on ESPN 63 is expected to be one of the highlights of the welterweight card. It will be interesting to witness how these two styles clash; Covington prefers to be a methodical wrestler while Buckley has an explosive striking ability that can stop his opponents. Considering Buckley’s form especially after winning his last fight, he would be the most favored fighter in this contest. He has the ability to finish fights when things are difficult and because of this, it is possible for him to overcome the tactical approaches of Covington as well.
Taking into account the last week’s fight between Pantoja and Asakura, which was purely determined by the strategic depth and the physical capacity of the fighters, elements of that nature are expected in the context of this fight as well. From the prior fights, it was also evident that some measure of tactics and the finishing ability was crucial and these are some of the abilities that Buckley has in plenty. Considering the turn of events in such fights, it is likely that this persists being a crucial bout for fans and fighters that relish a combination of strategy and brute force.
Hilbert Mayer
Sports Writer
Hilbert Mayer is a professional sports writer, betting analyst, and content strategist with over 15 years of experience in the sports industry. Before focusing on sports betting analysis and handicapping, Hilbert worked as a sports writer for various news outlets, covering everything from game recaps to in-depth matchup features. Today, he specializes in MLB, NFL, March Madness, and UFC betting, combining his journalistic background with deep statistical expertise and real-world betting insights. His proven track record, sharp reads, and ability to break down complex matchups make him a trusted voice among both casual bettors and seasoned sharps.
Published on: December 14, 2024
Last updated: March 24, 2025