Last UFC Card of 2024
The UFC is heading to Tampa Bay, Florida for the final fight card of the year and it’s an absolute banger. In the main event, we have the return of Colby “Chaos” Covington coming off of his third title defeat, taking on the surging Joaquin “New Mansa” Buckley who is now 5-0 in his new weight class.
If Buckley comes out on top this weekend, this could be a major shift in the welterweight division. However, Covington is looking to prove that he is still one of the best welterweights in the UFC with a dominant victory over Buckley.
Leading up to the main event is a banger in the co-main event between hometown favorite Billy Quarantillo who will be looking to put on a show against longtime veteran Cub Swanson. The rest of this card is littered with exciting fights like Manel Kape vs. Bruno Silva, Dustin Jacoby vs. Vitor Petrino, and Drakkar Klose vs. Joel Alvarez just to name a few.
As the year comes to a close, the experts at Home of Fight will be putting money into your pockets before the holiday season! With that said, let’s take a look at the Home of Fight expert picks for UFC Tampa.
Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley
- Matty Betss – Joaquin Buckley
“It’s hard to believe Colby will be able to get takedowns or keep Buckley down in this fight and Buckley will be the much more powerful guy on the feet”
- The Fight Analyst – Joaquin Buckley
“This will be Joaquin Buckley’s coming out party. His quickness, movement, and power on the feet will be too much for Colby Covington to get a read on him to land his strikes and takedowns as Buckley either puts him away midway through the fight or gets his first 5-round decision victory.”
- Hayjive – Joaquin Buckley
“When you take in all the aspects of this fight I find it hard to make a case for Colby. Buckley is in his prime, and looks like a different beast down at welterweight. Colby is almost 37 years of age and has clearly lost a step. I see Buckley finding a knockout within the first 3 rounds.”
- Nolan (TheParlay) – Joaquin Buckley
“Buckley is far more explosive, powerful, better striking, and youthful with title aspirations. Colby beats guys at the end of their careers, and I don’t think he’s got the same motivation.”
- JJ (TheOctagonKings) – Colby Covington
“Buckley has the youth power and athleticism but I still have doubts about his durability later, especially if Colby can survive early.”
- Austin Swaim – Colby Covington
“UFC has hand-picked Colby’s matchups for a decade. Buckley’s poor effort against Logan Storley and the five-round duration could both be factors that are why he’s been chosen for this one.”
Cub Swanson vs. Billy Quarantillo
- Matty Betss – Billy Quarantillo
“Look for Billy Q’s pace to be too much for Swanson in this fight and maybe get a rd 2/3 finish.”
- The Fight Analyst – Billy Quarantillo
“The Tampa Bay native Billy Quarantillo is going to steal the show with an all-out war with Cub Swanson where he just does enough to get the nod on the judge’s scorecards.”
- Hayjive – Cub Swanson
“Cub will have to come out hot if he wants the respect from Billly Q. I see Cub having success early hurting Billy and if his cardio can hold up I see Cub winning a decision in a barn burner.”
- Nolan (TheParlay) – Cub Swanson
“Billy Q has become so hittable, and Cub has the ability to make fights close. I think Cub has enough in the tank to win the first two rounds and not get finished in the 3rd.”
- JJ (TheOctagonKings) – Billy Quarantillo
“Quarantilo is the younger fighter, will look for openings when he can dictate where the fight will go.”
- Austin Swaim – Billy Quarantillo
“I’ve got this fight slightly likely to go the distance (50.1%), and Billy’s mounting storm should win at least a couple of rounds if he survives Round 1. This is a good live betting spot, too.”
Manel Kape vs. Bruno Silva
- Matty Betss – Manel Kape
“Silva rallied last fight against Durden but i don’t see a world where it happens here as he was just WAY too hittable on the feet. Kape by KO or decision and shouldn’t be close.”
- The Fight Analyst – Manel Kape
“This is the type of matchup that brings out the fight in Manel Kape and when Kape comes to fight he puts on a dominant performance. This weekend against Silva we can expect that type of Kape where his power and aggression will be too much for Silva potentially putting him midway through the fight.”
- Hayjive – Manel Kape
“Kape is one of the best counter strikers in the flyweight division but Bruno Silva has big KO power on the feet and a dangerous sub game. I think Kape will be too fast and sharp and eventually find a finish in this fight.”
- Nolan (TheParlay) – Manel Kape
“Kape should have a speed and striking advantage paired with the ability to defend any wrestling coming his way. He needs to fight with more urgency and if he does, he can pull away in this fight.”
- JJ (TheOctagonKings) – Manel Kape
“Silva has been impressive on his last few, however he has a lot of openings at times, and becoming over agressive can be bad against Kape, who’s a tremendous counter-striker.”
- Austin Swaim
“As two of the highest knockdown rates at flyweight meet, I’m expecting an early finish. I think Silva is significantly undervalued to come out ahead in the firefight, being the only person to ever drop Tyson Nam. Will he be the first to drop Kape?”
Vitor Petrino vs. Dustin Jacoby
- Matty Betss – Dustin Jacoby
“I’m taking the huge dog here Jacoby has to keep it standing and can use the kickboxing to win a decision.”
- The Fight Analyst – Vitor Petrino
“Vitor Petrino had a blunder resulting in the first loss of his career, don’t expect lightning to strike twice here. Petrino goes in there puts the pace and pressure on Dustin Jacoby lands the takedown and gets the submission finish.”
- Hayjive – Vitor Petrino
“Jacoby may be completely washed, but if he has some durability left he will undoubtedly be the better striker in this matchup. Petrino does present a strong takedown game and I think he will go to it here. Petrino by decision.”
- Nolan (TheParlay) – Vitor Petrino
“Petrino will be motivated off his only UFC loss. Jacoby has shown signs of his chin deteriorating, and he’s on the back end of his career. Petrino’s size, power, strength, and athleticism could present issues.”
- JJ (TheOctagonKings) – Vitor Petrino
“Petrino is a atheltic phenom, and while he did show bad Fight-IQ, he does normally perform according to strategy. Against a guy like Jacoby, he will look to hurt him and take him to the ground.”
- Austin Swaim – Dustin Jacoby
“Can’t endorse backing Petrino. I’ve got him just -165, and I don’t think his striking nor submission skills are polished up to have this line over Jacoby. I’d consider a point spread bet here given a close nod probably goes to the prospect.”
Adrian Yanez vs. Daniel Marcos
- Matty Betss – Daniel Marcos
“This could be the spot for Yanez to finally break out to the division as he actually matches up well against the undefeated boxing. He needs to check leg kicks and he may outbox Marcos.”
- The Fight Analyst – Adrian Yanez
“This is a step in the right direction for Adrian Yanez to get back into the rankings. Yanez slick boxing is going to give Daniel Marcos trouble landing his own strikes as Yanez goes in there puts his hands on Marcos either getting the late finish or the nod on the judge’s scorecards.”
- Hayjive – Daniel Marcos
“Marcos is rightfully favored here with more ways to win the fight, however Yanez has the ability to KO majority of the bantamweight division. I see Marcos being keen to the big shots from Yanez and winning a decision.”
- Nolan (TheParlay) – Daniel Marcos
“Yanez is a good striker with power, but seems to struggle against technical kickers and kickboxers who have more depth to their striking, which is what Marcos possesses. Marcos is unbeaten and I can’t fade him until I’ve seen a loss.”
- JJ (TheOctagonKings)
“Daniel Marcos will have the speed advantage and will be defensively aware to avoid the power shots, while picking Yanez apart.”
- Austin Swaim
“Trusting Yañez has made some adjustments in regards to leg kick defense, this is another matchup of power-punchers at a lower weight class. I’m one to love Marcos’ sparkling analytics, but the level of competition is non-existent. Best bet here is violence.”
Navajo Stirling vs. Tuco Tokkos
- Matty Betss – Tuco Tokkos
“I’m going with the massive underdog here as he has good grappling and Stirling is just unproven.
- The Fight Analyst – Navajo Stirling
“Navajo Stirling should have no trouble coming away with the big knockout victory in his UFC debut against Tuco Tokkos making a statement to those in the middleweight division.”
- Hayjive – Navajo Stirling
“This looks like a setup win for Sterling who had a great performance on DWCS. He should be able to find a KO within 2 rounds.”
- Nolan (TheParlay) – Navajo Stirling
“There will be levels to the striking in this matchup, and if Tokkos cant implement wrestling, he’s a sitting duck waiting to be hit.”
- JJ (TheOctagonKings)
“After an impresssive Contender Series outing, Stirling made it clear he’s a finisher of that calliber. Tokkos has lost his UFC debut and his Contender fight both times in R1. This is a good introduction of Stirling to a UFC crowd.”
- Austin Swaim
“Any finish bet should just be a round or ITD when submission is so long, but overwhelmingly, Tukkos is a last-minute replacement that isn’t UFC-caliber. This is a prop-up spot for one of the Contender Series’ brightest 2024 prospects.”