UFC Tampa Main Event Announced, Card Done

DALLAS, TEXAS – JULY 29: Dana White attends the UFC 277 weigh-in at American Airlines … (+) Center July 29, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

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The final UFC 2024 card has already been set. On Friday night, the promotion announced an intriguing fight between No. 7 welterweight Ian Machado Harry and No. 9 Joaquin Buckley.

This fight will serve as the main event of UFC 310 on December 14. Both Harry and Buckley were in the running to replace the injured Belal Muhammad at UFC 310 on December 7. However, the UFC had other plans.

Muhammad had to make the first defense of his UFC welterweight title against number three Shavkhat Rakmonov.

The UFC is still looking for a replacement as that fight was supposed to be the main event. If the promotion is unable to find a replacement, the UFC men’s flyweight championship between champion Alexander Pantoja and newcomer Kai Asakura will be moved from the co-main event to the main event.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – June 29: Ian Machado Harry of Ireland watches the welterweight bout during … (+) UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena on June 29, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jan Maul/Getty Images)

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The Harry-Buckley fight takes place between two of the fastest rising contenders in the welterweight division. Harry is undefeated at 15-0 overall and 8-0 in the UFC. Most recently, Harry scored a unanimous decision victory over Michael Venom Page in June, a split decision victory over Geoff Neal in February and a dominant unanimous decision victory over Neil Magny in August 2023.

Harry hasn’t finished off opponents in his last few fights, which could have impacted his growth. If he had stopped Page or Neil, Harry could have finished in the top five.

The 26-year-old still has a great opportunity to challenge for the title in 2025 if he continues to win.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – OCTOBER 5: Joaquin Buckley reacts to his knockout win over Stephen … (+) Thompson in a welterweight bout during UFC 307 at Delta Center on October 5, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

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Buckley has been a UFC workhorse since signing in 2020. In 4.5 years in the UFC, Buckley has already fought 14 times in the promotion. Buckley owns a 10-4 UFC record, including wins over Stephen Thompson, Nursulton Ruziboev, Vicente Luque and Alex Morono.

Buckley comes into the fight with Harry on a five-fight winning streak and hopes to skyrocket to a title shot.

Here’s a look at the entire map.

Ian Machado Harry vs. Joaquin Buckley (170 lbs)
Amanda Ribas vs. Mackenzie Dern (115 lbs)
Dustin Jacoby vs. Vitor Petrino (205 lbs.)
Tracy Cortez vs. Miranda Maverick (125 lbs)
Manel Cape vs Bruno Silva (125 lbs)
Cub Swanson vs. Billy Quarantillo (145 lbs.)
Michael Johnson vs. Ottman Azaitar (155 lbs.)
Said Nurmagomedov vs. Daniel Marcos (135 lbs)
Piera Rodriguez vs. Josephine Knutsson (115 lbs.)
Navajo Stirling vs. Tuco Toccos (205 lbs.)
Davey Grant vs. Ramon Taveras (135 lbs.)
Drakkar Klose vs. Joel Alvarez (155 lbs.)
Shawn Woodson vs. Fernando Padilla (145 lbs.)

Although it hasn’t been announced yet, it looks like Dern vs. Ribas will be one of the main events. This fight is a rematch, with Dern initially winning. Ribas will strive to change the situation.

Dern is ranked sixth and Ribas is ranked eighth in the UFC’s women’s flyweight division. With seven ranked fighters set to compete in Tampa, the UFC’s plan appears to be to finish the year with a bang.