Colby Covington isn’t happy that his fight was stopped at UFC on ESPN 63.

Covington (17-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) suffered a third-round medical stoppage TKO against Joaquin Buckley (21-6 MMA, 11-4 UFC) in Saturday’s main event at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Covington was cut on his right eyelid early in the fight and was bleeding profusely throughout.

Considering he stepped in on three weeks’ notice, Covington is undeterred after dropping his second straight fight.

“Not bad without training camp,” Covington said during his YouTube channel.

Covington lost rounds 1 and 2, but rallied in round 3 before the doctor stepped in to stop the fight. UFC CEO Dana White disagreed with the stoppage, saying Covington could have continued fighting if it had been Las Vegas.

A disappointed Covington felt like the tide was about to change before the doctor ended the fight.

“We’re going to come back stronger than ever,” Covington said. “This is just the beginning for me. I wasn’t at my best tonight. I got off the couch, but it was for company. I did this for the company I love so much, which changed my life. I know that there is still a lot of fight in me and that the best is yet to come. I was just warming up for this fight.

“I think it was tied 1-1, and I was starting to pick on him. I could see him breathing through his mouth. I was starting to catch him with more shots, so it’s a shame they stopped him. Even Dana came out and said, “If this was in Vegas, this would never have been stopped.” » I took his hardest shots, and it was nothing. They didn’t bother me at all. I was going down while walking, so we will come back stronger.

To learn more about the card, visit MMA Junkie’s Event Center for UFC on ESPN 63.