MMA
Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley: Michael Chandler makes bold prediction for UFC Fight Night main event
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Colby Covington returns to action after almost a year away from the Octagon when he faces Joaquin Buckley in the headline bout of this weekend's UFC Fight Night in Florida.
Covington was last seen losing to then-UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards at UFC 296, and the 36-year-old looks to get back to winning ways nearly 365 days later against Buckley, 30, who enters the weekend on a five-fight win streak.
Buckley was originally scheduled to take on Ian Machado Garry before the latter was pulled to fight Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310, paving the way for Covington to step in as a replacement opponent.
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However, another former UFC title contender doesn't think much of Covington's chances in Garry's stead, as Michael Chandler believes the upcoming fight is Buckley's to lose.
At issue for Chandler is Covington's lack of activity over the past five years, during which he has only fought five times.
"I'd love to see Colby Covington get his block knocked off by Joaquin Buckley this weekend," Chandler told Lucky Block. "I mean, what an interesting decision. You sit out for all those years, lose a title fight and all of a sudden you come back kind of on short notice against Joaquin Buckley.
"Colby's not the smartest guy, he's not the brightest bulb and we'll see it on Saturday night. I think Joaquin Buckley goes out there and I think he finishes Colby. I do.
"I think Colby just doesn't have it anymore. I don't really know if Colby ever really had it, to be honest with you. But we'll see how it plays out. But I think Joaquin goes out there and gets his hand raised."
