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Dana White Disputes Doctor's Decision: 'Doesn't Get Stopped in Vegas'

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio G Losada | Last updated Dec 15, 2024 12:33 PM ET

The UFC’s final fight of 2024 ended in controversy with Dana White voicing his disagreement over a doctor’s decision to halt the bout between Joaquin Buckley and Colby Covington due to a severe cut on the latter's eyelid.

Speaking at the post-fight press conference on Saturday, White suggested that had the fight taken place in Las Vegas, it would not have been stopped.

“I was curious to see how it would go if it went five rounds,” White said. “No doubt that was a bad cut, but the fight doesn’t get stopped in Vegas.

”That fight keeps going in Vegas. 100 percent. It’s frustrating because Covington is one of the toughest guys out there.

”Sure, the cut was bad, but he wasn’t done.”

Dana White didn’t agree with the stoppage in the main-event:

“No doubt that was a bad cut, but that fight doesn’t get stopped in Vegas.”

@ufc #UFC #MMA #UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/E2p9IqJPI8
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) December 15, 2024

The fight was halted late in the third round after referee Dan Miragliotta consulted the ringside doctor, who warned that Covington risked “losing his eyelid” if the bleeding continued.

While the decision prioritized fighter safety, White felt it deprived the fight of a natural conclusion. However, he acknowledged things can get out of control when such wounds happen inside the Octagon.

“Love him or hate him, the guy’s a dog, (expletive) tough as nails, took big shots to the body, big shots to the head that would have knocked a lot of people out," White said. ”Colby’s durable and tough, but when you get cut, anything can happen.”

When it comes to the actual fight, Buckley dominated his opponent on Saturday, battering Covington with body shots and combinations that could have probably ended with Covington suffering a knockout had the doctor allowed the fight to reach the final buzzer.

With the win, Buckley improved to 21–6, solidifying his place as a rising force in the welterweight division, where he's now 6-0. Covington, on the other hand, is 2-4 in his last six fights and 17–5 overall.

The UFC will return in 2025 with the "biggest fight" in UFC history looming on the horizon, as White himself confirmed on Saturday.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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