Betting Chaos: Colby Covington underdog against Joaquin Buckley in UFC Tampa opening odds

Jesse Holland is among the longest-tenured media professionals in the combat sports news space, covering MMA, professional wrestling and boxing on a full-time basis since early 2004.

Former UFC welterweight title challenger, Colby Covington, returns to MMA action opposite red-hot 170-pound contender, Joaquin Buckley, atop the UFC Tampa fight card, recently made official for Sat., Dec. 14, 2024 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

Covington (20-6) opened as the +155 underdog, according to the number crunchers over at BetOnline.ag, with Buckley pegged as the early favorite at -180. As with most betting lines, you can expect those figures to fluctuate (in both directions) as we get closer to fight night.

Covington (17-4) has only competed five times over the last five years, putting together a 2-3 record during that span. In fact, the 36 year-old “Chaos” has not beaten anyone currently signed to the active UFC roster since out-wrestling Rafael dos Anjos back in June 2018.

As for Buckley, who turned 30 back in April, he improved to 20-6 with his stunning, second-round knockout over former welterweight title challenger, Stephen Thompson, as part of the UFC 307 lineup last October, his fifth straight victory dating back to late 2022.

UFC Tampa also features the strawweight showdown pitting Mackenzie Dern (-110) against Amanda Ribas (-110). Elsewhere on the card, Cub Swanson (+130) collides with Billy Quarantillo (-150) at featherweight, while Joel Alvarez (-280) and Drakkar Klose (+240) hook ‘em up at 155 pounds.

For the rest of the UFC Tampa fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.