Covington denies legitimacy of Buckley loss at UFC Tampa

Colby Covington does not believe his loss to Joaquin Buckley in the main event of UFC Tampa on Saturday night was legitimate.

The veteran suffered a cut above his right eye early on in the welterweight clash, which eventually led to a doctor stoppage late in the third round.

In the aftermath, UFC CEO Dana White said the fight would have continued had it been held in Las Vegas, and Covington himself agrees.

“Even Dana came out and said if that was in Vegas, that would have never been stopped,” he said.

“That’s what I’m going to say, too. Bullshit.

“I’ve had way worse in fights than a little cut over my eye.

“It’s unfortunate that the doctor stopped the fight like that because if we’re in Vegas, I know the fight gets to keep going.

“I feel like the doctor is the one that beat me tonight.

“I didn’t feel like I lost to another opponent.”

UFC betting sites had Buckley as a -250 favourite to win the main event in Tampa, with Covington paying outsider odds of +200.

Across the 14-minute and 42-second bout, the younger fighter dominated for the majority of the time.

Buckley — who is now on a six-fight winning streak — had the better of Covington in the striking exchanges and managed to deny his takedown attempts expertly.

However, Covington believes he was still in the fight and that fans were robbed of a grandstand finish.

“It was building, a five-round fight,” he said.

“I took his hardest shots and they weren’t nothing. They didn’t faze me at all. I was walking right down.

“I was just getting warmed up in that fight.

“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.

“I feel like I was really just starting to gain momentum.

“There wasn’t as much volume at that point, so I feel like it was going to be my fight in the championship rounds.”

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