Dana White didn’t see a hearth of shock from Colby Covington when the physician waved off Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 63 principal occasion with Joaquin Buckley.
Former interim welterweight champion Covington (17-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) returned from a one-year layoff at Amalie Area in Tampa, Fla., and was reduce open on the proper eyelid by Buckley (22-6 MMA, 11-4 UFC) within the opening spherical. He tried to battle by way of it, however the blood and harm solely bought worse because the struggle wore on, and after a number of checks, the cageside doctor mentioned no extra in the course of the third spherical.
It’s the primary time Covington has misplaced consecutive fights in his MMA profession, and White mentioned he thinks “Chaos” understood the fact of how this one got here to an finish.
“Hear, Colby’s an older man that fights each from time to time,” White instructed MMA Junkie and different reporters post-fight at UFC on ESPN 63. “He’s at all times sturdy and he’s at all times robust. … I additionally really feel like Colby wasn’t too pissed that struggle bought stopped by the reduce. It was undoubtedly bothering him.
“It was undoubtedly bothering him, and as quickly because the nook would repair it, he would stroll again out and rips it open once more and makes it begin bleeding once more. That alone tells you that the reduce was bothering him massive time.”
Regardless of his commentary concerning the lack of protest from Covington, 36, over the stoppage, White mentioned he thought it wouldn’t have gotten that approach if the occasion was held in UFC’s residence base of Nevada. Nonetheless, White gave credit score to Covington for competing by way of adversity for so long as he did.
“Little doubt that was a nasty reduce, however that struggle doesn’t get stopped in Vegas,” White mentioned. “That struggle retains entering into Vegas – 100% (it might’ve saved going).
“Love him or hate him, the man’s a canine – robust as nails. (He) took massive pictures to the physique, took massive pictures to the top that will’ve knocked lots of people out. Colby’s sturdy and hard, however once you get reduce, something can occur.”
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