Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley: Odds and what to know ahead of UFC Tampa headliner

Colby Covington will make a surprising short-notice return to the octagon after one year away when he steps into the UFC on ESPN 63 headliner with Joaquin Buckley, who is unbeaten since dropping to welterweight.

Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley preview

Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) hasn’t seen action since December 2023 when he suffered a unanimous decision loss to then-champion Leon Edwards at UFC 296. The defeated dropped “Chaos” to 0-3 in undisputed UFC title fights, and the matchup with Buckley will give him a chance to register his first win over an active member of the UFC roster.

Looking to halt the brash surging contender will be a powerhouse player in Buckley (21-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC), who has put in solid work during his 4-0 run at 170 pounds, which includes stoppages of former title challenger Stephen Thompson and longtime contender Vicente Luque.

Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley odds

DraftKings released the opening odds, in which Buckley is a +145 betting favorite over Covington, who is a -175 underdog.

How to watch Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley at UFC on ESPN 63

• When: December 14, 2024
• Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Fla.
• Broadcast/streaming: ESPN2, ESPN+

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 63.