Fight picks for UFC ESPN 63: Covington vs. Buckley!

This article in a nutshell:

UFC on ESPN 63: Covington vs. Buckley, live on December 14, 2024, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, features a welterweight showdown between Colby Covington and Joaquin Buckley, with Billy Quarantillo taking on Cub Swanson in the co-main event. We got Buckley and Quarantillo as the winners in the main and co-main event.

Other key predictions include Ottman Azaitar securing a KO over Michael Johnson and Joel Alvarez earning a submission win against Drakkar Klose. The article breaks down expected outcomes.

Also catch the article below:

Results and reactions from UFC Fight Night 248 (click to read)

UFC on ESPN 63: Covington vs. Buckley is set to deliver an action-packed night of mixed martial arts on December 14, 2024, at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The event is headlined by a welterweight clash between former interim champion Colby Covington and rising contender Joaquin Buckley.

Check below for our complete predictions - also check out Michael Bisping's thoughts ahead of the fight.

Main Card (ESPN2, ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET)

Main Event: Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley

General consensus: Joaquin Buckley enters the fight as a 2-1 favorite over Colby Covington.

Prediction: Joaquin Buckley wins by unanimous decision.

Buckley enters the bout as the favorite, riding a five-fight win streak since moving to welterweight, including a notable knockout victory over Stephen Thompson. His explosive striking and power will present significant challenges for Covington.

Covington, known for his relentless pace and wrestling, aims to rebound from a unanimous decision loss to Leon Edwards in December 2023. However, Buckley's recent form and ability to manage distance may lead him to outpoint Covington in the majoirty of the five rounds in our opinion.

Co-Main Event: Cub Swanson vs. Billy Quarantillo

General consensus: Billy Quarantillo is seen as a slight favorite at 1.5-1 against Cub Swanson.
Prediction: Billy Quarantillo wins by TKO in Round 3.

Quarantillo's high output and pressure fighting style could in our opinion overwhelm the veteran Swanson - who has shown certain signs of slowing down in recent bouts.

We thus expect Quarantillo to push the pace and probably secure a late stoppage in this fight.

See some highlights from Cub Swanson's career below ahead of the fight.

Other Key Fights from UFC on ESPN 63

Manel Kape vs. Bruno Silva: Manel Kape is considered a moderate favorite over Bruno Silva. In what promises to be a fast-paced flyweight battle, Manel Kape's speed and striking accuracy are expected to edge out Bruno Silva. Predicted outcome: Kape wins via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27), further solidifying his status as a top contender in the division.

Ottman Azaitar vs. Michael Johnson: Ottman Azaitar enters the fight as a moderate favorite against Michael Johnson. Ottman Azaitar is predicted to showcase his explosive power with a first-round KO of Michael Johnson. With a devastating right hand at 2:15 of the opening frame, Azaitar's anticipated victory could mark a triumphant return after a year-long layoff.

Joel Alvarez vs. Drakkar Klose: Joel Alvarez is viewed as a slight favorite over Drakkar Klose. Joel Alvarez’s slick grappling and ability to capitalize on scrambles are likely to earn him a second-round submission win over Drakkar Klose. Predicted outcome: Alvarez secures a rear-naked choke at 3:12, reaffirming his position as a rising lightweight threat.

Catch UFC on ESPN 63: Covington vs. Buckley live on ESPN2 and ESPN+ for a night of fights with potential title implications in Tampa, Florida! Our predictions are summarized below.

Main card

Fight	Our prediction
Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley	Joaquin Buckley by unanimous decision
Cub Swanson vs. Billy Quarantillo	Billy Quarantillo by TKO in round 3
Manel Kape vs. Bruno Silva	Manel Kape by unanimous decision
Dustin Jacoby vs. Vitor Petrino	Dustin Jacoby by TKO in round 2
Daniel Marcos vs. Adrian Yanez	Daniel Marcos by split decision
Navajo Stirling vs. Tuco Tokkos	Navajo Stirling by submission in round 1

Preliminary card

Fight	Our prediction
Ottman Azaitar vs. Michael Johnson	Ottman Azaitar by KO in round 1
Joel Alvarez vs. Drakkar Klose	Joel Alvarez by submission in round 2
Fernando Padilla vs. Sean Woodson	Sean Woodson by unanimous decision
Miles Johns vs. Felipe Silva	Miles Johns by TKO in round 3
Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Miranda Maverick	Miranda Maverick by unanimous decision
Davey Grant vs. Ramon Taveras	Davey Grant by submission in round 2
Josefine Knutsson vs. Piera Rodriguez	Josefine Knutsson by unanimous decision