Colby Covington’s UFC comeback didn’t go as planned. On December 14th at UFC Tampa, the former interim welterweight champion faced Joaquin Buckley in a match that proved to be one-sided. Buckley, ranked #9 in the division, used relentless power to outclass Covington. A deep gash over Covington’s right eye forced the ringside doctor to end the fight at 4:42 of the third round. For Covington, this loss marked his fourth in six fights, adding another blow to his once-promising career.
To see Colby Covington got fucc’d up by Joaquin Buckley and ended a doctor stoppage for Colby is the BEST early Christmas present ever! 🎅🏻🎄🎁🤩🤩🤩🤩 FUCC THAT CLOWN COLBY COVINGTON! #UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/Lul6LjEoeR
— ⚜ WHO DAT Cool Breesy ⚜ (@Steve2duhO) December 15, 2024
Josh Thomson Highlights How Leaving American Top Team Changed Colby Covington’s Career Trajectory
The loss has reignited debate over what’s behind Covington’s struggles. Josh Thomson, a former fighter turned analyst, believes the answer may lie in Covington’s gym switch.
“I’m going to simply say that once you’ve trained at a prestigious gym like American Top Team [ATT], and then you find your way out of it, running your own camp in a smaller facility without many top-level people to train with, especially after leaving a gym with a plethora of world-class fighters…. it’s noticeable. You saw it tonight. I don’t know if it’s the age, because I know he’s older, but let’s be honest, within two fights, he doesn’t look like the same person since he left American Top Team..” Thomson remarked during his Weighing In podcast.
Covington was a part of the prestigious ATT gym for eight years, training alongside some of MMA’s biggest stars, including Jorge Masvidal and Joanna Jędrzejczyk. However, in 2020, his relationship with the team soured, particularly with Dustin Poirier and Masvidal, leading to his departure. Since then, Covington has trained at MMA Masters, but his recent performances suggest the transition hasn’t worked in his favor.
The fallout with ATT has followed him throughout his career. Jorge Masvidal, once a close friend, has publicly criticized Covington’s conduct, claiming he alienated teammates and ignored coaches’ advice. For many, including Thomson, these fractured relationships may have significantly impacted Covington’s ability to regain his footing in the Octagon.
“Those are the rounds where you’re trying to catch your second, sometimes third, wind. But not having the talent that he needs to help push his pace in training is what I feel like I’m seeing right now. I’m seeing a fighter who is having a hard time setting a pace inside the cage against world-class fighters because he doesn’t have world-class fighters to train with anymore.”
Covington’s future in the UFC is now uncertain. Once considered for a high-stakes matchup against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310, Covington instead faced Buckley, an outcome that only narrowed his path to title contention. With rising stars like Ian Machado Garry climbing the ranks, Covington’s chances for another shot at UFC gold are slipping away.
As the 36-year-old weighs his next move, his career appears at a crossroads. Whether he can reclaim his former glory may depend on more than just his skills, it might require rebuilding bridges with the team that helped make him a star.
