The UFC concludes the 2024 calendar with one last event. UFC Tampa takes place at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, and it features 13 fights in total, including a five-round welterweight main event between top-15 ranked fighters Colby Covington and Joaquin Buckley. We will break down the headliner plus two undercard fights in the latest edition of the UFC picks.

UFC odds via DraftKings Sportsbook and current as of publication. Check out our DraftKings Sportsbook Review.

Joaquin Buckley (-278) vs. Colby Covington (+225)

The headliner of UFC Tampa is a five-round welterweight fight between ranked contenders Joaquin Buckley and Colby Covington. Buckley is -278 top sports betting apps, and I like him to win this fight.

Buckley is 30 and he is 10-4 in the UFC. The American is the No. 9 ranked welterweight in the UFC, which makes sense given he is a perfect 5-0 since moving down to 170 lbs last year. After a 5-4 run as a middleweight, Buckley has found new life at welterweight, knocking out three of his five opponents in the weight class, including top-15 fighters Stephen Thompson and Vicente Luque. Buckley is one of the most explosive strikers in the division and he also has good wrestling, making him a true threat for the top of the division. We still don’t know how he will fare in a five-round fight, so at the very least, we should learn more about Buckley in this main event.

Covington is 36 and he is 12-4 in the UFC. The American is the No. 6 ranked welterweight, although he is at risk of falling down the rankings with a loss here against Buckley. That’s because Covington has been highly inactive in recent years, essentially averaging one bout a year for the last five years. When he’s at his best, Covington is one of the top wrestlers in the UFC welterweight divisions with great cardio and decent striking, but he rarely fights anymore, so we don’t know how he will look when he steps into the cage against Buckley. It is also worth noting Covington took this on short notice after Ian Machado Garry was moved to UFC 310.

Covington has been very inactive these last few years, and I believe that will hurt him in this fight against Buckley, who has been racking up tons of experience with great results as of late. Given Buckley’s incredible KO power and Covington’s declining durability as he gets older, I like Buckley to knock him out. Take Buckley to win at -278, and look for him to win by knockout.

UFC Tampa Best Bet: Joaquin Buckley wins at -278 with DraftKings Sportsbook  

 UFC Tampa Odds: Daniel Marcos (-170) vs. Adrian Yanez (+142)

In an exciting bantamweight matchup, Daniel Marcos fights Adrian Yanez. Marcos is a -170 favorite, and I like him to get his hand raised.

Marcos is 31 and he is 3-0, 1 NC in the UFC. The Peruvian has one of the top undefeated records in the UFC right now as he holds a 16-0, 1 NC record overall as a pro MMA fighter. He is a sharp striker who is technical with his strikes and also packs power in them. So far in the UFC, Marcos has looked terrific, as he’s been moving up his level of competition and continually winning fights. A top-15 ranking could be next for Marcos in 2025 with another solid win or two.

Yanez is 31 and he is 6-2 in the UFC. The American reeled off five straight wins to begin his UFC debut, with four of those wins coming by knockout, before stepping up in competition and then suffering two knockout losses. He was able to bounce back with a knockout of his own his last time out, but those two recent TKO defeats are certainly concerning. Still, Yanez is a fantastic striker who has big power and if his chin holds up he can make this a fight with Marcos.

Marcos should be the more effective striker in this fight, plus he is more durable. I expect a very fun striking battle between two men who love throwing hands, but at the end of 15 minutes or less, I expect Marcos to be the winner. Take Marcos to win as a -170 favorite and keep his undefeated streak intact, and expect him to win on the scorecards or perhaps with a late finish.

UFC Tampa Best Bet: Daniel Marcos wins at -170 with DraftKings Sportsbook .

UFC Tampa Odds: Miranda Maverick (-440) vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth (+340)

Women’s flyweights collide when Miranda Maverick meets Jamey-Lyn Horth. Maverick is a -440 favorite, and I fully expect her to win.

Maverick is 27 and she is 7-3 in the UFC. The American has been in the UFC since 2020, and overall she has had a good run in the promotion, including a notable win over Gillian Robertson. Maverick is a physically strong fighter who excels in the grappling department, as she routinely takes her opponents down and beats them on the mat, which has led her to several submission wins. Her striking is also solid, making Maverick a well-rounded fighter. Although she is not currently ranked in the top 15, she should be able to get a ranking with a few more solid wins.

Horth is 34 and she is 2-1 in the UFC. The Canadian debuted in 2023 with a decision win over Hailey Cowan before suffering an upset loss to Veronica Hardy later that year. She then bounced back with a split-decision win over Ivana Petrovic last month. After Maverick’s original opponent, Tracy Cortez fell off the card, Horth stepped up on short notice to take the fight. Given she just fought last month, Horth should be in great shape for this bout. However, as far as the style clash goes, this bout should favor Maverick. That’s because Horth does not have great takedown defense, and Maverick should be able to exploit that aspect of her game.

Maverick should be the superior grappler in this fight and I think she has the striking advantage, too, so she should cover Horth anywhere the fight goes. This fight will likely go the three rounds as many women’s MMA fights do, and I like Maverick to take home the fight on the scorecards. Take Maverick to win as a -440 favorite, and look for her to win by decision for a prop bet.

UFC Tampa Best Bet: Miranda Maverick wins at -440 with DraftKings Sportsbook .