After pushing for months to get a shot at Colby Covington, Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry is getting to headline the UFC’s final card for this year.
However, it will not be against Covington.
The promotion on Friday announced that Machado Garry, the No. 7-ranked welterweight, would face ninth-ranked Joaquin Buckley at UFC Fight Night in Tampa, Florida, on Dec. 14.
Photo: AFP
Machado Garry, 26, is undefeated through 15 matches, the most recent coming on June 29 when he beat Michael Page via unanimous decision.
Last month, Machado Garry said in an Instagram post that in September he was offered a fight with Covington — the No. 6-ranked welterweight — and agreed to the fight.
However, Covington had not responded whether he accepted the fight, Machado Garry said.
“He’s avoiding me like the plague and there’s one reason and one reason only this fight isn’t happening, and his name is Colby Covington,” he added.
Covington last fought in December last year, when he lost a unanimous decision to Leon Edwards in a welterweight title bout.
Buckley (20-6-0) has won each of his past five fights since dropping down in weight class in May last year.
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