<p>What a way to close out the UFC calendar year! The final event of 2024 delivered some memorable moments and stunning finishes inside Amalie Arena in Tampa.</p> <p>In the main event, Joaquin Buckley put on a masterclass against former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington. "New Mansa" stuffed Covington's takedown attempts with ease and battered him on the feet, opening up a nasty cut over Covington's right eye. The doctor eventually had to call a stop to the fight in the third round due to the damage, giving Buckley a huge TKO victory.</p> <p>The co-main event saw veteran Cub Swanson turn back the clock with a spectacular KO of Billy Quarantillo. At 41 years old, Swanson showed he's still got it, surviving some heavy shots before landing a brutal 1-2 combo in the third that put Quarantillo out cold.</p> <p>Other highlights included Dustin Jacoby scoring a come-from-behind KO of Vitor Petrino in the third round of their light heavyweight tilt. Manel Kape also put on a show against Bruno Silva, taunting and dancing his way to a third round TKO after Silva lost a point for repeated low blows.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>UFC on ESPN 63 Results</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Joaquin Buckley</strong> def. Colby Covington via TKO (Doctor's Stoppage) at 4:42 of Round 3</li> <li><strong>Cub Swanson</strong> def. Billy Quarantillo via KO (Punches) at 1:36 of Round 3</li> <li><strong>Manel Kape</strong> def. Bruno Silva via TKO (Punches) at 1:57 of Round 3</li> <li><strong>Dustin Jacoby</strong> def. Vitor Petrino via KO (Punch) at 3:44 of Round 3</li> <li><strong>Daniel Marcos</strong> def. Adrian Yanez via Split Decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)</li> <li><strong>Navajo Stirlin</strong>g def. George Tokkos via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)</li> <li><strong>Michael Johnson</strong> def. Ottman Azaitar via KO (Punches) at 2:03 of Round 2</li> <li><strong>Joel Alvarez </strong>def. Drakkar Klose via KO (Knee and Punches) at 2:48 of Round 1</li> <li><strong>Sean Woodson</strong> def. Fernando Padilla via TKO (Punches) at 4:58 of Round 1</li> <li><strong>Felipe Lima</strong> def. Miles Johns via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)</li> <li><strong>Miranda Maverick</strong> def. Jamey-Lyn Horth via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)</li> <li><strong>Davey Grant</strong> def. Ramon Taveras via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)</li> <li><strong>Piera Rodriguez</strong> def. Josefine Lindgren Knutsson via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Fight by Fight Breakdown</h2> <h3>Joaquin Buckley vs. Colby Covington</h3> <p>In a stunning upset, Joaquin Buckley thoroughly dominated former interim champ Colby Covington over three rounds. Buckley's takedown defense was on point, stuffing Covington's attempts with ease. On the feet, "New Mansa" picked Covington apart, opening up a nasty cut over his right eye that eventually led to the doctor calling a stop to the fight. This win catapults Buckley into welterweight title contention, while Covington will need to go back to the drawing board after a disappointing performance.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Cub Swanson vs. Billy Quarantillo</h3> <p>41-year-old veteran Cub Swanson showed he's still got it, scoring a spectacular third round KO of Billy Quarantillo. Swanson weathered some heavy shots from Quarantillo in a back-and-forth war before landing a picture-perfect 1-2 combo that put Quarantillo out cold. It was a vintage performance from Swanson and potentially the perfect way to cap off his legendary career if he chooses to retire.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Manel Kape vs. Bruno Silva Manel</h3> <p>Kape put on a show against Bruno Silva, taunting and dancing his way to a third round TKO victory. Silva lost a point for repeated low blows, but it didn't matter as Kape was in complete control throughout. The flashy flyweight continues to impress and climb the rankings with another highlight reel finish.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Dustin Jacoby vs. Vitor Petrino</h3> <p>In a back-and-forth light heavyweight scrap, Dustin Jacoby scored a come-from-behind KO of Vitor Petrino in the third round. Jacoby was hurt several times but showed tremendous heart, landing a perfect straight right that put Petrino out cold with just over a minute left in the fight. It was a huge win for Jacoby to get back in the win column.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Daniel Marcos vs. Adrian Yanez</h3> <p>In a closely contested bantamweight bout, Daniel Marcos edged out a split decision win over Adrian Yanez. Marcos had success with his wrestling and grappling, while Yanez landed the cleaner strikes on the feet. In the end, two judges gave the nod to Marcos in a fight that could have gone either way.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Navajo Stirling vs. George Tokkos</h3> <p>Navajo Stirling cruised to a unanimous decision win over George Tokkos in a rather uneventful light heavyweight contest. Stirling was the more active fighter throughout, outstriking Tokkos on the feet and defending his takedown attempts to earn the clear-cut victory.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Michael Johnson vs. Ottman Azaitar</h3> <p>Veteran Michael Johnson scored an emphatic KO of Ottman Azaitar in the second round of their lightweight tilt. Johnson timed a perfect right hook as Azaitar was coming in wildly, putting him out cold. It was a vintage performance from "The Menace" to get back in the win column.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Joel Alvarez vs. Drakkar Klose</h3> <p>Joel Alvarez made quick work of Drakkar Klose, landing a brutal jumping knee followed by punches for the first round KO. Alvarez hurt Klose early and never let up, finishing the fight in emphatic fashion to continue his climb up the lightweight ranks.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Sean Woodson vs. Fernando Padilla</h3> <p>In a wild back-and-forth featherweight scrap, Sean Woodson scored a late first round TKO of Fernando Padilla. After eating some heavy shots early, Woodson rallied and landed a barrage of punches that put Padilla away with just two seconds left in the round.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Felipe Lima vs. Miles Johns</h3> <p>Newcomer Felipe Lima impressed in his UFC debut, outstriking Miles Johns to earn a clear unanimous decision win. Lima was the faster, more active fighter throughout, landing the cleaner shots and defending Johns' takedown attempts to get his hand raised.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Miranda Maverick vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth</h3> <p>Miranda Maverick got back in the win column with a unanimous decision victory over Jamey-Lyn Horth. Maverick used her wrestling and grappling to control large portions of the fight, doing just enough to sway the judges in her favor in a closely contested bout.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Davey Grant vs. Ramon Taveras</h3> <p>Veteran Davey Grant put on a striking clinic against Ramon Taveras, earning a clear unanimous decision win. Grant was the busier, more varied striker throughout, landing kicks and punches from range to outpoint Taveras over three rounds.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Piera Rodriguez vs. Josefine Lindgren Knutsson</h3> <p>Piera Rodriguez dominated Josefine Lindgren Knutsson on the ground en route to a lopsided unanimous decision victory. Rodriguez repeatedly took Knutsson down and controlled her on the mat, cruising to the win in a one-sided affair to open the card.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Odds not available in SA.</p>