UFC Tampa, the final card for the promotion for 2024, delivered in nearly every measurable way. Seven of the 13 fights ended in finishes including four of the fights on the six-fight main card. In the main event, Joaquin Buckley defeated Colby Covington, likely signaling the end of ‘Chaos’ run with the elites of the welterweight division. And in the co-main event, 41-year-old Cub Swanson had a vintage showing in his Fight of the Night performance as he stopped Billy Quarantillo late in the third round.
Heading into 2025, where will the losing side of the card go? Let’s do a little matchmaking.
Colby Covington
Joaquin Buckley styled on Colby Covington for three rounds in the main event of UFC Tampa before the fight was stopped due to a cut above Colby’s eye. Covington entered the fight ranked generously at #6 in the welterweight division while Buckley was ranked at #9. Covington has now lost three of his last four fights and not competed more than once in a calendar year since 2019.
That should likely be it for Covington with favorable fights at the top of the division. Colby should draw someone outside of the top 10 if not someone of the fringe of being ranked. A matchup with Stephen Thompson would fit the bill perfectly. Wonderboy has also lost three of his last four fights and is currently ranked at #11. Stephen’s last fight was also against Buckley, and he was also stopped, back in October. Classic striker versus grappler matchup for two aging former welterweight title contenders. The winner of that fight would be in a position to call for what they wanted, within reason, maybe a crack at the top ten.
Colby’s next fight: Stephen Thompson
Billy Quarantillo
Billy Quarantillo put up a gutsy performance before getting starched late in the final round of his fight with Cub Swanson. The barn burner of a fight won Fight of the Night honors, which is rare for a fight that didn’t go the distance.
Quarantillo looked good until he didn’t, and it was a fun fight, so the loss doesn’t hurt his stock too much. However, Billy has lost three of his last four fights all by stoppage.
Moving forward, Billy Q. should fight Gabriel Miranda in his next fight. Miranda and Quarantillo were scheduled to fight each other in March before Miranda withdrew. Gabriel went on to fight Morgan Charriere on UFC Paris main card in September. Charriere would earn a performance bonus that night for his KO of Miranda. So let’s rebook two fighters brutally stopped in their last fights, that are almost always in exciting fights that often don’t go the distance.
Billy’s next fight: Gabriel Miranda
Bruno Silva
Bruno Silva was outclassed by Manel Kape in a three round fight at UFC Tampa that saw him stopped in the final round. Silva put up a gutsy performance, but it definitely marked the arrival of one Manel Kape. Bruno entered the fight ranked at #12 in the UFC’s flyweight division while his opponent was ranked at #9.
Silva should get some another striking heavy matchup in his next bout. #15 ranked Joshua Van would be a perfect fight for Silva. Van is 5-1 in the UFC so far only having lost to Charles Johnson in July. Joshua fought at UFC 310 and secured one of the biggest victories of his career via a unanimous decision over Cody Durden. Known for his powerful boxing and aggressive style, Joshua Van would make a perfect opponent for Silva in his next bout.
Bruno’s next fight: Joshua Van
Vitor Petrino
Vitor Petrino suffered another horrible loss on Saturday night when Dustin Jacoby flatlined him late in their fight. Petrino has now been finished twice in a row after Anthony Smith choked him out back in May. To make matters even worse, Petrino is now even farther away from a ranking, and this is the first time he’s ever been KO’d.
Petrino’s next fight should be against the winner of Ibo Aslan vs. Ion Cutelaba. That fight is slated to go down on February 22, 2025. Cutelaba is a tenured UFC vet that has won two of his last three following a three-fight skid. Aslan is a 2023 Contender Series product who is 14-1 as a pro and 2-0 in the UFC. He has finished both his opponents including undefeated, Raffael Cerqueira in his last fight at UFC 308. Either fighter would be a dangerous matchup for Petrino and a fun striking bout to watch for fans. And the winner of the bout would maybe be a fight away from being ranked especially if it ends in a stoppage.
Vitor’s next fight: Ibo Aslan vs. Ion Cutelaba winner
Adrian Yanez
Adrian Yanez dropped a close split decision to the undefeated Daniel Marcos on the main card of UFC Tampa on Saturday. Yanez and Marcos put on a stellar performance but ultimately Adrian was on the wrong side of the decision. Yanez has now lost three of his last four fights. It’s been a tough stretch for the 2020 Contender Series product who got off to a hot start with the promotion, scoring five wins and bonus in his first five appearances.
Yanez is no longer ranked, and unfortunately for him, this loss puts him further away from being such. Adrian should fight Ricky Simon in his next bout. Ricky has three of his last four fights. Simon was last in the cage opposite of Vinicius Oliveira on UFC 303 in June. Simon is a tall task as he is durable and always brings a solid gameplan to his fights. Yanez was close to winning against Marcos and thanks to his exciting fight style and potential, he’s a fighter that should get more than one chance at moving up.
Adrian’s next fight: Ricky Simon
Tuco Tokkos
Tuco Tokkos was defeated via unanimous decision by the undefeated Navajo Stirling to kick off the UFC Tampa main card. Tokkos lost his UFC debut to Oumar Sy in May when he was submitted by rear naked choke in the first round. Even though light heavyweight is shallow in the UFC, Tuco needs a win desperately in his next fight.
Tuco should next fight the loser of Magomed Gadzhiyasulov vs. Bruno Lopes. That fight goes down on January the 11, the first UFC card of 2025. Magomed is an undefeated 9-0, 2023 Contender Series product. Gadzhiyasulov fought Brendson Ribeiro to a majority draw in his promotional debut back in June. Bruno Lopes is 11-1 is a two-time Contender Series fighter. Lopes lost toe Brendson Ribeiro in his first DWCS bout before winning and securing a victory in this past season against Mikheil Sazhiniani. All three of these guys have around the same number of fights and experience levels. The loser of that fight would definitely be in jeopardy of getting cut or fighting for their spot on the roster.
Tuco’s next fight: Loser of Magomed Gadzhiyasulov vs. Bruno Lopes
