White: Covington v Buckley stoppage wouldn’t happen in Vegas

UFC CEO Dana White believes the doctor’s stoppage which prematurely ended Colby Covington’s clash with Joaquin Buckley on Sunday (AEDT) should not have happened.

The main event of UFC Tampa was called to a halt at 4:42 in the third round, with referee Dan Miragliotta referring Covington to the fight doctor.

She deemed a cut over his right eye was too severe for the fight to continue, handing the victory to Buckley.

“No doubt that was a bad cut, but that fight doesn’t get stopped in Vegas,” White said after the event.

“That fight keeps going in Vegas, 100%.”

White underscored Covington’s track record of durability in the UFC, suggesting he was more than capable of continuing.

“Listen, Colby’s an older guy that fights every once in a while,” he said.

“He’s always durable and he’s always tough, like I just said.

“Did you hear the body shots he was getting hit with tonight? And the head shots he took?

“That stuff would have stopped other guys.

“Colby’s tough, but I also feel like Colby wasn’t too pissed that fight got stopped by the cut.”

Covington sustained the cut above his eye early in the first round, with Buckley continuing to do damage to his face across the next two rounds.

“The cut was definitely bothering him,” White continued.

“Literally as soon as the corner would fix it, he’s waiting to walk back out and he rips it open again and makes it start bleeding again.

“That alone tells you that was bothering him big time.

“I don’t think that Colby was very upset when it did get stopped.

“It was bothering him.”

UFC betting sites had Covington slated as a $3 underdog heading into the fight, with Buckley heavily favoured at $1.40.

Despite the stoppage, Buckley controlled the bout from the outset, defending takedowns excellently and prevailing in the striking exchanges.

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