Ian Machado Garry-Joaquin Buckley to headline UFC Tampa

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 in 2024.

But it won't be against Covington.

The promotion announced Friday that Machado Garry, the No. 7-ranked welterweight, would face ninth-ranked Joaquin Buckley at UFC Fight Night in Tampa on Dec. 14.

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 claimed in an Instagram post that in September he was offered a fight with Covington -- the No. 6-ranked welterweight -- and agreed to the fight. But, he maintained in the video, Covington had not responded whether he accepted the fight.

"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," Machado Garry said in the post.

Covington last fought in December 2023, when he lost a unanimous decision to Leon Edwards in a welterweight title bout.

Buckley (20-6-0) is no slouch, however, having won each of his past five fights since dropping down in weight class in May 2023.

--Field Level Media