The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is looking forward to its year-end finale at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, featuring a crucial showdown between Colby Covington and Joaquin Buckley. Covington’s previous lackluster title battle with Leon Edwards has left room for anticipation and compelled Covington to prove his mettle against Buckley if he aspires to compete again for the championship. His encounter with Edwards casts doubts about Covington’s ability to sustain his vigorous wrestling style that has defined his success for years. Buckley, despite facing his first five-round match, is foreseen to fortify his welterweight victory streak. (Prediction: Buckley).
UFC’s featherweight division will present a bout between Cub Swanson and Billy Quarantillo. Quarantillo, who initially distinguished himself with three striking victories after joining the UFC from Dana White’s Contender Series, has had an inconsistent performance in the featherweight arena. Swanson’s recent journey also mirrors Quarantillo’s, as he tries to rebuild his career after a series of losses. The veteran fighter Swanson’s odds are wavering, causing a slight tilt toward Quarantillo. (Prediction: Quarantillo).
An intriguing match is anticipated between Manel Kape and Bruno Silva. Kape narrowly missed a title shot earlier due to a defeat against Muhammad Mokaev at UFC 304, and now Silva is in his sight to commence a new streak of victories. Silva’s consecutive fight finishes propelled him into the flyweight rankings. However, his victories didn’t come against widely recognized names thus casting doubt on picking him over Kape, should the majority of the fight unfold on foot. (Prediction: Kape).
A spotlight match will feature Vitor Petrino and Dustin Jacoby. Petrino’s surprising loss to Anthony Smith in the previous match was a setback for his UFC light heavyweight rankings entrance. The match with Jacoby doesn’t guarantee Petrino’s spot in the rankings, yet it may provide Petrino with an opportunity to regain his momentum with a potential victory after his first-ever loss. (Prediction: Petrino).
Catch a thrilling match between unranked bantamweights Adrian Yanez and Daniel Marcos at UFC Tampa. Yanez recently returned to triumph against Vinicius Salvador and has the potential to stop Marcos from continuing his victory streak. This match, high in stakes and potentially dramatic, may yield a significant shift for these fighters’ standing in UFC. (Prediction: Yanez).
Navajo Stirling meets Tuco Tokkos in the Octagon. Stirling booked his spot in the UFC after proving his abilities in Dana White’s Contender Series, whereas Tokkos failed to impress in his debut against Oumar Sy, a result likely to be repeated in the bout against Stirling. (Prediction: Stirling).
Expect a rigorous encounter between veterans Michael Johnson and Ottman Azaitar. It’s commendable that Azaitar took a necessary break following back-to-back knockout losses, but Johnson may have the upper hand given his experience, possibly setting him up for consecutive wins. (Prediction: Johnson).
Keep an eye on the fight between Joel Alvarez and Drakkar Klose. Despite Klose’s familiarity with the UFC and current winning streak, Alvarez emerges as the favored contender, thanks to his considerable height and reach advantage. Still, the match may hold surprise outcomes. (Prediction: Alvarez).
Watch the encounter between Sean Woodson and Fernando Padilla. While Padilla’s ability to finish and his comparable reach might be worrying factors for Woodson, he’s expected to register another victory, advancing his pursuit of a fight against ranked featherweight opposition. (Prediction: Woodson).
Don’t miss the fight between Miles Johns and Felipe Lima. Lima, who emerged victorious against Muhammad Naimov in a short-notice UFC debut, is promising, but Johns might give him a tough fight. Nevertheless, the prospects for Lima capturing his second win in the UFC seem high. (Prediction: Lima).
Miranda Maverick will face Jamey-Lyn Horth, who deserves accolades for rapidly returning to the ring following her recent win against Ivana Petrovi?. Yet despite her previous victory, Horth now faces a significantly tougher opponent in Maverick, who enters the bout with a three-win streak. (Prediction: Maverick).
Look forward to the match between Davey Grant and Ramon Taveras. Taveras might seem like a wise choice considering his youth and less fighting mileage, but Grant’s powerful blows could turn the fight in his favor even in his late thirties. (Prediction: Grant).
Finally, the match between Josefine Knutsson and Piera Rodriguez is a significant one to watch. Rodriguez is on the edge, risking her UFC roster spot after consecutive losses, and is now confronted with the daunting challenge of facing undefeated Knutsson. (Prediction: Knutsson).