UFC Fans Call Colby Covington The New Tony Ferguson After The Joaquin Buckley Loss

Tony Ferguson and Colby Covington

The real challenge in sports isn’t reaching the peak of success. It’s staying there without falling back because slipping means starting from square one again. In the UFC, Colby Covington, once seen as one of the best, is now being compared to Tony Ferguson after his loss to Joaquin Buckley. Both fighters, once on top, are now struggling, with Covington’s recent form leading fans to label him the new Tony Ferguson.

For those who missed it, Covington suffered his second straight loss at UFC Tampa last night when his fight with Joaquin Buckley was stopped in the third round due to a gruesome cut. This marks his 4th loss in his last six fights, and in the past 5 years, he’s only won 2. It raises questions about what’s going wrong with Covington, who once seemed like the next big thing.

Similarly, Tony Ferguson, who was on a 12-fight win streak, is now on a 7-fight losing streak. Fans are drawing comparisons between the two, with many calling Covington the “new Ferguson” as they both went from being top contenders to struggling with consecutive losses.

Some fans suggested that Colby is following the same decline as Tony Ferguson.

On the other hand, one fan believes Colby should retire before ‘El Cucuy’.

A fan pointed out that Colby lost his aura after Buckley humiliated him. He added that ‘Chaos’ and Ferguson are in the same situation and should think about retiring.

Some fans suggest that ‘Chaos’ vs. Ferguson should happen since both are on a losing streak.


Meanwhile, one fan calls the decline worse than Ferguson.

Dana White Slams Stoppage Of Colby Covington Fight At UFC Tampa
At the post-fight presser, Dana White shared his thoughts on the doctor stoppage at UFC Tampa, saying he was curious about how the fight would have progressed if it had gone into the later rounds. He acknowledged the severity of the cut but emphasized that in Vegas, the fight would have continued without interruption. White emphasized that they would not have stopped the fight despite the severe injury in that setting.

He said, “No doubt that was a bad cut. But that fight doesn’t get stopped in Vegas. That fight keeps going in Vegas. 100%.”

The cage-side doctor stopped the fight after Covington risked losing his eyelid. But it looked like one of those cuts we see all the time in the UFC. And, White pointed out, Vegas doctors let fighters push through, like with Aldana and Rodrigues’ nasty injuries. Meanwhile, with the last fight night of the year behind us, all eyes are now on the upcoming UFC events.

How Much Money Did Joaquin Buckley Make By Defeating Colby Covington?

The UFC wrapped up its final PPV of 2024 last weekend, and this weekend, fans witnessed the last Fight Night event of the year. UFC Tampa hosted the event, delivering top-notch action across the entire fight card. However, the main event stood out as Joaquin Buckley inflicted significant damage on Colby Covington, securing a victory via doctor stoppage. Both fighters also walked away with a solid purse for their efforts.

Joaquin Buckley defeated Colby Covington by TKO (doctor’s stoppage) at 4:42 of Round 3. When it comes to their salaries, SportySalaries reported that Buckley earned a fixed purse of $350,000, with his total earnings potentially reaching $500,000. Covington, meanwhile, reportedly secured $400,000 for his appearance at UFC on ESPN 63.

In his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping, the ‘NewMansa’ let fans pick his next opponent, mentioning names like Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad. While the crowd responded positively, they cheered even louder at the mention of Kamaru Usman. However, Buckley may not get that wish, as Usman is likely to face Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 312 in Sydney this February.

Joaquin Buckley Vs. Colby Covington: Round By Round

Buckley started aggressively, pushing Covington toward the cage and showing his superior power. Covington, however, looked comfortable on his feet and landed some looping shots while attempting a level change that Buckley defended with ease. A cut opened on Covington’s right eye as Buckley continued to press forward. Buckley dropped Covington with a clean right hand late in the round, but the bell saved him.

In Round 2, Covington attempted takedowns but struggled to hold Buckley down, who responded with sharp strikes and relentless pressure. Covington seemed to run out of answers as the fight wore on. In Round 3, Buckley stunned Covington with a stiff jab and unleashed a flurry of heavy shots, battering his opponent’s face.

A scramble saw Buckley mount Covington before landing a knee to the head on the feet. The referee paused the fight for the doctor to check Covington’s worsening cut, leading to a stoppage. Buckley’s dominant victory—his sixth consecutive win—cements his rise in the division, moving him closer to title contention and leaving fans excited for what’s next as Dana White teased big fights for 2025.