Buckley (20-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) meets former interim welterweight champion Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) in the UFC on ESPN 63 headliner on Dec. 14 from Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.

Colby Covington is set to make his highly anticipated return to the octagon. He’ll face rising star Joaquin Buckley in the main event of UFC Tampa on Dec. 14 at the Amalie Arena.

UFC analyst says that Colby Covington was likely persuaded to step in and face Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa rather than calling for it

Colby Covington will make a surprising short-notice return to the octagon after one year away when he steps into the UFC on ESPN 63 headliner with Joaquin Buckley, who is unbeaten since dropping to welterweight.

Will we get a highlight reel ending at UFC Tampa? Henry Cejudo thinks there's a finish brewing for Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley.

Machado Garry (15-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) spent months campaigning to fight Covington, accusing him for turning down a bout offer on multiple occasions. Machado Garry wound up getting booked against Joaquin Buckley in the UFC on ESPN 63 headliner on Dec. 14 from Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla..

Joaquin Buckley has no intention of taking Colby Covington to the scorecards. Two months removed from his highlight-reel knockout of Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson at UFC 307, ‘New Mansa’ will return to the Octagon for the UFC’s final event of 2024.