Analysis of UFC Fight Night Odds and Predictions for Covington vs. Buckley

• UFC Fight Night: Covington vs Buckley odds have been released
• Welterweights Colby Covington vs Joaquin Buckley square off in the main event
• Check out all the UFC Fight Night: Covington vs Buckley odds and our best bets, below

Colby Covington returns to the octagon at UFC Fight Night looking to revive his career in the welterweight division. He’ll be met by the lethal striking ability of Joaquin Buckley, who aims to earn his shot at the title with a victory. All the action gets underway from Amalie Arena, in Tampa, Florida this Saturday, December 14th.

Here are the UFC Fight Night: Covington vs Buckley odds and our best bets.

UFC Fight Night: Covington vs Buckley Odds

The UFC Fight Night: Covington vs Buckley odds have Dana White’s Contender series veteran Navajo Sterling as a massive -750 favorite over Tuco Tokkos who comes back as a +525 underdog.

Odds as of December 12, 2024, at DraftKings Sportsbook. Look for a Draftkings Sportsbook promo code for all your MMA betting action. 

How to Watch UFC Fight Night: Covington vs Buckley

• What: UFC Fight Night: Covington vs Buckley
• When: Saturday, December 14, 2024
• Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa Bay, Florida
• TV: ESPN +, Pay-Per-View
• Start Times: 7 pm ET (Prelims) | 10 pm ET (Main Card)

Covington vs Buckley Prediction

Veteran welterweight Colby Covington steps back into the octagon on Saturday night looking to reassert himself in the welterweight division. However, the heavy hands of Joaquin Buckley will be a major challenge.

These two fighters are heading in opposite directions. Buckley has won five straight fights, and his combination of power and confidence make the St. Louis native one of the most dangerous fighters in the 170-pound division. Meanwhile, Covington has alternated wins and losses in each of his last five fights. He’s spent a year on the sidelines refining his skills since his unanimous decision loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 296.

Covington’s path to victory lies in his relentless pace and grappling. Known for his cardio and ability to drag opponents into deep waters, “Chaos” will need to close the distance and attempt to neutralize Buckley’s power. As evidenced by his 14 career knockout wins, Buckley’s heavy hands and diverse striking game make him a dangerous opponent. He’ll aim to keep Covington at range and find a finish.

Credit where credit is due. Joaquin Buckley delivers the KO of the year, straight out of a Kung fu flick! #UFCFightIsland5 pic.twitter.com/Qwyd9vILP6

— Beyond Kickboxing (@Beyond_Kick) October 10, 2020

One has to wonder if Covington can conjure enough offense to control the terms of engagement against his larger, younger opponent. Should the Fort Lauderdale based former interim champ can impose his wrestling and avoid Buckley’s power, he’ll have a clear path to victory. Having said that, Buckley has shown his patience and lethality throughout his five-fight win streak. The former middleweight will be the much larger fighter in the cage. He’ll continue his ascension in the welterweight division with a win over Covington on Saturday night.

Pick: Joaquin Buckley to win (-265)

Swanson vs Quarantillo Prediction

41-year-old featherweight Cub Swanson steps back into the cage in the UFC Fight Night co-main event. “Killer” has stayed active, winning a decision against Hakeem Dawodu in August of 2023, nefore falling to Andre Fili by split decision at UFC 303 in June. Swanson’s boxing and durability have carried him through many wars in the past. But, at 41, how much does the veteran have left in the tank?

On the other side of the cage, Billy Quarantillo is a -148 favorite. However, he’s lost four of his past seven fights and is far from a sure bet. At the same time, his volume striking and grappling prowess will keep him in favorable positions. Quarantillo has shown the ability to overwhelm opponents with sheer activity, and against the aging Swanson that pressure could make all the difference.

The deep waters is where we shall go 🦑 https://t.co/D7mLNCExO5

— Billy Quarantillo (@BillyQMMA) December 12, 2024

Look for Quarantillo to start fast and aim to dictate the pace of the bout. Once this fight gets into the third round, the younger fighter’s pace and cardio will be enough to secure the victory.

Pick: Billy Quarantillo to win (-165), Quarantillo over 80 total significant strikes (-115)

UFC Fight Night is set to feature an exciting matchup between Colby Covington and Khamzat Chimaev on Saturday night. Both fighters are known for their aggressive fighting styles and impressive records in the Octagon. As the fight draws near, fans and analysts alike are eagerly anticipating the outcome of this highly-anticipated bout.

Colby Covington, also known as “Chaos,” is a former interim UFC Welterweight Champion with a record of 16 wins and 3 losses. Known for his relentless pressure and high-volume striking, Covington is a formidable opponent for anyone in the welterweight division. His last fight was against Tyron Woodley in September 2020, where he secured a dominant victory via TKO in the fifth round.

On the other hand, Khamzat Chimaev is a rising star in the UFC with an undefeated record of 9 wins and 0 losses. The Swedish fighter burst onto the scene in 2020 with three impressive wins in just 66 days, setting a record for the fastest three victories in modern UFC history. Chimaev’s last fight was against Li Jingliang in March 2021, where he secured a first-round submission victory.

As the fight between Covington and Chimaev approaches, oddsmakers have released their predictions for the matchup. Currently, Colby Covington is the favorite to win with odds of -200, while Khamzat Chimaev is the underdog with odds of +150. This means that a bet of $200 on Covington would yield a profit of $100, while a bet of $100 on Chimaev would yield a profit of $150.

In terms of predictions, many analysts believe that Covington’s experience and high-level wrestling skills will give him the edge in this matchup. His ability to control the pace of the fight and wear down his opponents with relentless pressure could prove to be too much for Chimaev to handle. However, Chimaev’s explosive striking and submission skills make him a dangerous threat to anyone in the division, and he could certainly pull off an upset if given the opportunity.

Ultimately, the outcome of this fight will come down to who can impose their will on the other and dictate the pace of the fight. Both Covington and Chimaev are skilled fighters with unique strengths, and it will be interesting to see how they match up against each other in the Octagon. UFC Fight Night fans can expect an exciting and competitive bout between these two talented athletes on Saturday night.