The world of mixed martial arts was set abuzz this past weekend as a highly anticipated UFC fight between Colby Covington and Joaquin Buckley came to a controversial conclusion. In a bout that many expected to be a barnburner, the doctor’s stoppage due to a severely bleeding cut above Covington’s eye left fans and the fighter himself frustrated and seeking answers.
A Fight Cut Short
As the third round of the contest began, Covington and Buckley were knotted at one round apiece on most scorecards. The two welterweights had spent the first ten minutes trading heavy leather, with each man having his moments. But it was a vicious elbow from Buckley late in the second frame that opened a gash above Covington’s right eye, setting the stage for the bout’s premature ending.
Covington came out aggressively to start round three, clearly aiming to turn the tide. As he pressed forward throwing combinations, the blood began to pour from his wound, coating his face in a crimson mask. The doctor entered the cage to examine the injury not once, not twice, but three times before finally waving off the fight.
Covington Cries Foul
In the aftermath of the controversial stoppage, a visibly upset Colby Covington took to his YouTube channel to vent his frustrations. The former interim UFC welterweight champion felt he was just hitting his stride and that the fight was stopped prematurely.
“I was just getting warmed up in that fight,” Covington lamented. “I think it was tied up 1-1, and I was starting to wear on him. I could see him breathing out of his mouth. I was starting to catch him with more shots, so it’s unfortunate that they stopped it.”
He went on to suggest that had the bout taken place in the UFC’s home base of Las Vegas rather than Tampa, the outcome may have been different. According to Covington, even UFC president Dana White expressed that the fight would have been allowed to continue under the bright lights of the Nevada desert.
Sonnen Nearly Throws in Towel
While Covington cried foul, a revelation from his own corner raised eyebrows. Chael Sonnen, an MMA legend and current ESPN analyst who was working Covington’s corner that night, admitted he was moments away from stopping the fight himself.
“(Covington was) busted open so bad that the doctor has to look at it three times,” Sonnen disclosed on his own YouTube channel. “Twice, he stops the action to let it keep going. The third time, he goes, ‘We can’t keep going anymore.'”
– Chael Sonnen, Colby Covington’s Corner
Sonnen elaborated that he had the towel in hand, ready to throw it in and save his fighter from further damage. In his view, the amount of blood pouring into Covington’s eye made the doctor’s stoppage justified, if not inevitable.
A Bitter Pill to Swallow
For Covington, who falls to 17-5 in his professional career, the loss to Buckley is a bitter pill to swallow. After a year away from the Octagon, the 40-year-old aimed to reinsert himself into the welterweight title picture. Instead, he finds himself on a two-fight skid and facing questions about his fighting future.
Buckley, meanwhile, notches the signature win of his UFC tenure thus far, improving his record to 21-6. The 36-year-old heavy hitter from St. Louis will undoubtedly look to parlay this victory into a marquee matchup against another top contender in the stacked 170-pound division.
The Debate Rages On
As is often the case with any controversial stoppage, debates raged online among fans and pundits. Some sympathized with Covington’s perspective that he was finding his rhythm and the fight was stopped too soon. Others sided with Sonnen and the doctor, arguing that the blood was compromising Covington’s vision and putting him in peril.
Regardless of where one stands, the situation underscores the incredibly difficult judgment calls that doctors and officials must make in the heat of the moment. Protecting fighter safety is of paramount importance, but nobody wants to see a contest end prematurely if both combatants are still able to intelligently defend themselves.
What’s Next for Covington?
For now, Covington must go back to the drawing board. Despite his protestations, this loss will be difficult to erase from the minds of fans and UFC matchmakers alike. At age 40, the window for another title run is closing rapidly, if it hasn’t slammed shut already.
Still, the former NCAA Division I wrestling standout is nothing if not resilient. Covington has bounced back from adversity before, and he’ll surely aim to do so again. The welterweight division is as talent-rich as it’s ever been, so intriguing stylistic matchups are there for the making.
Whether it’s a long-awaited grudge match against fellow veteran Robbie Lawler, a showdown with surging contender Shavkat Rakhmonov, or maybe even a trilogy bout against former teammate Jorge Masvidal, Covington will have no shortage of blockbuster options when he’s ready to return.
First, though, he’ll need to heal up and reassess. A bitter pill indeed, but in the hurt business of professional cage fighting, it’s all part of the game. The fight may not have ended the way Colby Covington wanted, but it’s unlikely to be the last we see of “Chaos” inside the Octagon.
