Anticipated Bouts at UFC Fight Night: Forecasting Covington versus Buckley

Hey there! Here's an informal, entertaining take on the upcoming UFC event.

The main event at Amelie Arena will see featherweight veteran Cub Swanson face off against Billy Quarantillo, while top-15 flyweights Manel Kape and Bruno Silva square off in the co-main event. Light heavyweights Vitor Petrino and Dustin Jacoby will clash in a second fight at 205 pounds, and Adrian Yanez and Daniel Marcos will meet at bantamweight.

Money Talks: UFC Fight Night Betting Tips!

MAIN CARD

Fight Night, 15 December, From 05:00 AM SAST

Colby Covington (3.30) vs Joaquin Buckley (1.35) (Welterweight)

UFC stirred things up for their final events of the year, as Ian Machado Garry was initially set to face Buckley (20-6). However, the Irishman was shifted to a No. 1 contender battle against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310. In response, Covington (17-4) answered the call to headline the UFC's grand finale. Known for his love-to-hate personality, this man is no joke in the Octagon.

The 36-year-old is a cardio machine with high-level wrestling and a wealth of experience at the highest level. Competing in his home state, he might have the crowd on his side for a change, after losing a decision to Leon Edwards in a third failed bid to become undisputed champ last December. Covington takes on Buckley, who's unbeaten since moving to welterweight with a run of five wins, including KOs against Vicente Luque and former two-time title challenger Stephen Thompson.

Given seventh-ranked Buckley’s form, along with the fact that Covington comes in on short notice, Buckley is a sizable favorite. Granted, Covington faltered in his last fight, but he's usually a reliable grinder. A true pro, he's always in shape, so conditioning won't be an issue.

Put simply, I'm backing "Chaos."

Prediction: Covington by Decision. Bet: Covington at 3.30. Alternative Bet: Covington by Decision at 4.30.

Cub Swanson (2.36) vs Billy Quarantillo (1.61) (Featherweight)

Battle-hardened featherweights will take the co-main stage. Swanson (29-14), a tough-as- hell dog, is still a formidable force in the twilight of his career. After outpointing Hakeem Dawodu last year, he lost a split decision to Andre Fili in June, showing that even at 41, he's still a challenge to take down.

Quarantillo (18-6), on the other hand, has been inconsistent in the past four years, trading wins and losses. Coming off a submission loss to Youssef Zalaal in March, he's eager to bounce back. He may not be as technically sound as Swanson, but he's solid across the board – just not as proficient as the opponent.

Swanson has the edge in this one, if only by a hair.

Prediction: Swanson by Decision. Bet: Swanson at 2.36. Alternative Bet: Swanson by Decision at 4.00.

Manel Kape (1.26) vs Bruno Silva (3.95) (Flyweight)

No. 9-ranked Kape (19-7) aims to preserve his top-10 ranking and recover from his decision loss to rival Muhammad Mokaev, which ended his four-fight win streak. A former RIZIN champion, Kape is one of the rare knockout artists at 125 pounds. He's got 11 KOs, with his last stoppage win coming in 2021. This will be his first fight in three years, which could be a good sign that he's newly motivated and ready to reclaim his winning ways.

Silva (14-5-2) has won four consecutive fights by stoppage, climbing to 12th in the rankings. He started his streak with a TKO win over South Africa’s JP Buys and most recently knocked out Cody Durden in July.

Look for an entertaining, high-level matchup. Both fighters are defensively responsible, so expect this to go the entire distance. Kape should come out on top due to his explosiveness on the feet.

Prediction: Kape by Decision. Bet: Kape by Decision at 1.95.

Vitor Petrino (1.32) vs Dustin Jacoby (3.50) (Light Heavyweight)

All eyes will be on Petrino (11-1), who’s looking to rebound after suffering his first loss to Anthony Smith in May. A crucial mistake led to his neck being exposed, allowing Smith to win via guillotine choke. He won't have to worry about submission threats in this one, as he faces a fellow striker in Jacoby (19-9-1). The former kickboxer has been around for ages, though it's clear he's past his prime, as he's won just one of his last five fights.

Last time out, he was stopped by ex-title challenger Dominick Reyes, marking his second KO loss in MMA. Expect the younger, faster, and more dynamic Petrino to get the better of Jacoby.

Prediction: Petrino by KO/TKO. Bet: Petrino by KO/TKO/DQ at 2.10. Alternative Bet: Petrino by Decision at 4.00.

Adrian Yanez (2.70) vs Daniel Marcos (1.48) (Bantamweight)

Yanez (17-5) has the reputation of a gamer and a talented, powerful striker at bantamweight. He slipped out of the top 15 after two consecutive defeats to veterans Rob Font and Jonathan Martinez last year, but he rebounded with a first-round stoppage of Vinicius Salvador in May. This very dangerous fight gives him a lot to lose but little to gain, as his opponent is relatively unknown.

A striking specialist with half of his wins coming by knockout and the other half by decision, Marcos (16-0 with one no-contest) comes off a decision victory over John Castaneda in June. Look for a crisp, disciplined performance from "Soncora" in this one, ultimately keeping his undefeated record intact.

Prediction: Marcos by Decision. Bet: Marcos at 1.48. Alternative Bet: Marcos by Decision at 2.65.

Navajo Stirling (1.14) vs Tuco Tokkos (6.00) (Light Heavyweight)

Let's talk about Stirling (5-0), an unbeaten prodigy from New Zealand who's set to make his UFC debut on the main card. He's a member of City Kickboxing, home to former champions Alexander Volkanovski and Israel Adesanya, and boasts good footwork, range, and elbows. Tokkos (10-4) came up short in his promotional debut against Oumar Sy by first-half submission, but he did come in on short notice. This opportunity gives him a chance to show what he's got, though I see Stirling securing a successful UFC debut by KO/TKO.

Prediction: Stirling by KO/TKO. Bet: Stirling by KO/TKO/DQ at 1.54. Alternative Bet: Under 1.5 rounds at 2.65.

Be sure to tune in for some exciting UFC action! And don't forget to bet smart! See you at the fights!

Disclaimer: Note that these predictions and betting tips are not guaranteed results and should be used for entertainment purposes only. Always bet responsibly.

Source: Based on available data, broad MMA analysis principles, and general knowledge. There's no direct information on specific matchups for the hypothetical UFC Fight Night 222 event. For accurate predictions, check updated odds and fighter metrics closer to the actual event date.

The main event for the upcoming UFC event, taking place on December 15, features a welterweight match between Colby Covington and Joaquin Buckley, who are known for their dynamic fights.
In the co-main event, former rugby player Cub Swanson, with impressive odds of 2.36, will face Billy Quarantillo in a featherweight bout, with Swanson being the experienced fighter able to out-point his opponent.

3.Flyweight rivals Manel Kape and Bruno Silva will also square off at the event. Ranked 9th, Kape aims to preserve his top-10 position, with odds of 1.26, as he takes on Silva, who has won four consecutive fights by stoppage.

Vitor Petrino, known for his striking skills, will compete against Dustin Jacoby in a light heavyweight match. Petrino, favored with odds of 1.32, hopes to rebound from his loss to Anthony Smith earlier this year against Jacoby, who has struggled in his recent fights.
The Bantamweight fight between Adrian Yanez and Daniel Marcos promises to be a striker's delight. With odds of 2.70, Yanez looks to recover from his two consecutive defeats against veterans last year by outmatching the relatively unknown Marcos, who comes with odds of 1.48.