Tag: Jorge Masvidal

  • Jorge Masvidal Says Colby Covington Robbed Jon Jones In College

    Jorge Masvidal was warned about Colby Covington years ago.

    Jorge Masvidal used to be friends with Colby Covington. The two were training partners and, at one time, even roommates. Now they will be facing each other in the main event of this weekend’s UFC 272 in a grudge match.

    The fall of their friendship has long become public and both men are constantly trash-talking the other. Now, Masvidal is sharing some new information about how a former champion warned him about Covington and his ways.

    “Jon Jones warned me numerous times. Me and Jon Jones weren’t even cool like that,” Masvidal told ESPN. “We hadn’t spoken too much. But he sent a couple messages to me via our manager at the time. Like, ‘Man, watch this guy. He stole my clothes. My clothes don’t even fit him. He robbed me of money before we left the room. I never talked to him again.’”

    Masvidal and Covington have been saying some personal things about each other. Covington has been talking about Masvidal’s ex-wife, and Masvidal has been talking about Covington being kicked out of their gym. Now he is bringing Covington’s issues with Jones to the table.

    Masvidal believes that unlike with him and Covington, Covington’s beef with Jones would never be settled physically because one of the two would quickly exit that conversation.

    “Do you know what would happen if he was to run into Jon Jones? He would sprint out of the room. He would run so fast. But if he’s on Twitter on his computer, man, he’s poppin’ off,” Masvidal said. “What would happen if they crossed at Whole Foods or somethin’? [Covington] would jet out of there. I can’t respect that. If you say something, commit to it. Do it. Whether it was on Twitter or it was in your face. Do it. And he’s such a coward, man. I can’t wait to put an end to this charlatan.”

    Both Covington and Masvidal are hoping for another shot at the champion Kamaru Usman with a win at UFC 272. The bad blood between them makes this non-title fight main event a fan favorite and the history between them gives an added layer of fascination. Now that fight week is upon us, look out for even more secrets to be spilled and trash talk to be spoken.

    Do you think the winner between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington deserves and title shot?

  • Gilbert Burns: I’m Only Taking A Title Fight After I Beat Chimaev

    UFC welterweight Gilbert Burns says he will only be accepting a title fight if he conquers undefeated Khamzat Chimaev in his next fight.

    Burns and Chimaev have both openly spoken of their intentions to fight each other in their next Octagon appearances with no official confirmation of a bout between the pair by the UFC as of yet. Meanwhile, the Brazilian has also requested that their fight be a five-rounder.

    But now, Burns has gone one step further as he has emphasised he will only be looking to fight for the title with a victory over Chimaev.

    Burns Wants Title Shot If He Derails Chimaev’s Hype Train

    Gilbert Burns
    Gilbert Burns, Credit: Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty

    Speaking to The Schmo, Burns said that he is preparing to face Chimaev on April 9th at UFC 273 but has yet to have had confirmation of the fight. He also spoke on what he expects from the UFC if he defeats the #11-ranked welterweight.

    “Me, I want to fight for the title,” said Burns. “Why am I gonna fight Colby or Masvidal? I have nothing against these guys. I don’t want to push no one down. I don’t want to put myself up there (and) push anyone down. I respect everyone in that division. I think he’s one of the toughest in the division.

    “But beating Chimaev, #11 in the rankings with all that hype—to be completely honest, I don’t have to fight this guy. But I’m a fighter, I’m a competitor. I want to fight. I want to stay active.”

    Chimaev and many others have claimed that nobody is willing to face the rising star, with Burns along with Neil Magny as two of few that were eager to fight the Swede. Burns himself also claimed nobody was willing to face him, which led to his callout of Chimaev.

    “(None) of these guys want to fight me. The only guy that’s willing is Chimaev. So why not? I’m gonna fight the guy. And beating this guy, taking that hype away, the only fight I’m doing (next) is the title shot. That’s the only fight that I’m taking.”

    Do you see Gilbert Burns derailing the hype train of Khamzat Chimaev?

  • Jędrzejczyk: Masvidal Has ATT Nation On His Back For Covington Fight

    Joanna Jędrzejczyk says welterweight star Jorge Masvidal will have the full support of American Top Team ahead of his fight at UFC 272.

    Masvidal will square off against his former friend and former ATT teammate, Colby Covington in the UFC 272 headliner. It is arguably one of the most highly-anticipated grudge matches in UFC history.

    Covington split from ATT amidst his rise in success in the UFC welterweight division. His trash talk combined with tense relationships with teammates such as Masvidal led to him moving to train at MMA Masters.

    During a recent interview with The Schmo, Jędrzejczyk previewed the fight and why Masvidal is fighting for more than just bragging rights.

    “Man, it’s a big fight,” Jędrzejczyk said. “It’s going to be one of the biggest fights of 2022. And Jorge Masvidal has (the) ATT nation behind his back, but Colby is hell of a fighter, very dedicated. I remember them both training here. They used to do training together for one and a half hours and do some extra training together after. So they both are very dedicated, very talented, but I feel like Jorge is going to surprise like he did in the fight with Ben Askren or Darren Till, for example.”

    Masvidal has lost back-to-back fights to UFC Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, who will be in attendance for the fight. He was originally slated to face Leon Edwards at UFC 269 before withdrawing from the fight due to an injury.

    Covington and ATT have a very public and complicated history, and Masvidal will look to exact revenge for Jędrzejczyk, Dustin Poirier, and others who have been victims of Covington’s relentless banter.

    What is your prediction for Jorge Masvidal vs. Colby Covington?

  • Masvidal Contradicts Heel Origin Story Covington Has Told For Years

    Jorge Masvidal claims that the origin of Colby Covington’s outspoken persona did not begin for the reasons his former teammate claims it did.

    Prior to his 2017 fight against Demian Maia, Colby Covington was on a four-fight winning streak and had a UFC record of 7-1. Yet, according to Covington, that was not enough for the UFC. He claims the promotion said they were going to cut him despite the fact that he was winning because he was not entertaining enough.

    As the story goes, it was this warning that led to the infamous “filthy animals” Octagon interview after he defeated Demian Maia in São Paulo, Brazil.

    At the time of this promo, Covington and Masvidal were still teammates and close friends. And Masvidal claims to have direct knowledge that the reason for Covington’s promo had absolutely nothing to do with the UFC putting him on notice.

    “The UFC didn’t say that. Colby said that,” Masvidal told ESPN in reference to the true origin of the “bad boy” side of Covington.

    Masvidal went on to state that he, not unlike the Brazilian audience, was blindsided by the promo.

    “I didn’t know that it was coming. I was like, ‘Man, I don’t know how I feel about that. Because for me to have to diss a whole nation to get my name out there, to me, is like—damn. Especially in Brazil. There’s a lot of kids suffering. There’s a lot of hungry people out there. You’re kinda going too far.”

    Masvidal went on to say that he told Colby that what he said was wrong, and Covington did not take the criticism well.

    Masvidal: Jędrzejczyk & Nunes Have Both Confronted Covington

    During his fallout with American Top Team, Colby Covington did not only target Jorge Masvidal. He has also had words about Dustin Poirier and two female leaders of the gym: Joanna Jędrzejczyk and, allegedly, ex-teammate Amanda Nunes.

    Masvidal questions why Covington would speak about Jędrzejczyk and Nunes at all if his aim was just to sell pay-per-views as he claims.

    “Why’s he talking about Joanna? Why is he talking about Amanda? Is he gonna fight them? Is he gonna make pay-per-views with them? Because his whole thing is like, <whimpering> ‘UFC was gonna cut me. I need to sell pay-per-views,’” Masvidal said.

    Joanna Jedrzejczyk Colby Covington
    Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Colby Covington

    “You’re gonna sell pay-per-views when you fight Amanda? Why are you insulting women? Why are you bringing up women and things that you would do to them, this and that? Like, you’re a [MUTED] coward. And then he would see Amanda like, ‘Hey, Amanda, it’s just businesses.’ I’ve seen him myself do that. Same thing with Joanna. Same thing with numerous guys.”

    According to Jędrzejczyk, Jorge Masvidal has all of American Top Team on his back when he faces Colby Covington this Saturday at UFC 272. The night will present Masvidal with an opportunity to avenge all the teammates Covington trashed in the past. And no matter what was the origin of Covington’s decision to begin behaving in such an abrasive manner, Masvidal will look to put an end to it once and for all in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    What do you make of Jorge Masvidal’s remarks about Colby Covington’s persona?

  • The Countdown To UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal Officially Begins

    After two years of build-up, the “former friends turned bitter rivals” story starring Colby “Chaos” Covington and Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal will reach its climax.

    It’s fight week, and we now are limited to five more days of torrid trash talk between former chums Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal. Both fighters are coming off a loss to Kamaru Usman in their latest fight and will be looking to reroute back to the top of the division, beginning with this grudge match.

    In the co-main event, Rafael dos Anjos will be competing against Renato Moicano. And in another featured bout, rising featherweight Bryce Mitchell will be tested against proven vet Edson Barboza.

    UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal: Countdown

    “This isn’t gonna be a baptism. This is gonna be Street Judas’ funeral.” – Colby Covington

    Colby Covington
    Colby Covington, Getty Images

    At UFC 272, Colby Covington will look to put an end to Jorge Masvidal as we know him. The Countdown video captures the intensity and the “Chaos” that Covington plans to bring with him into the Octagon when he seeks to close out this dramatic chapter of his career.

    “I’m gonna look at him. You know what the [BLEEP] I’m talkin’ about, man. I brought you in, and I’m gonna take your ass out.” – Jorge masvidal

    Jorge Masvidal
    © Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

    At UFC 272, Jorge Masvidal finally gets the opportunity he’s been craving: to be the man to silence Colby Covington. The Countdown video captures Masvidal explaining why he feels it’s his responsibility to wipe Covington off the MMA map.

    Overall, the Countdown video does a thorough job of telling both sides of the story of how the two became friends, when and why things went sour, and just how eager they are to finally settle matters.

    “In my mind, I want to do this forever because I’m a fighter. – Edson Barboza

    Edson Barboza
    Edson Barboza, Credit: USA TODAY Sports

    UFC iron man Edson Barboza will be entering year 12 of his UFC tenure at UFC 272 when he takes on Bryce Mitchell. The Countdown video captures what makes Barboza such a thrilling, must-see staple of the UFC roster.

    “When the fight first starts, it’s basically gonna be like a little simmer. When I get him down, it’s a boil. And when I get him in certain spots, it’s a pressure cook. If I can get him in certain spots where I can pressure-cook him, then that meat’s gonna fall off the bone.” – Bryce Mitchell

    Bryce Mitchell
    Bryce Mitchell (Image Credit: Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

    At UFC 272, 27-year-old grappling maestro Bryce Mitchell will try to add the biggest feather in his fresh cap by defeating Edson Barboza. The Countdown video captures the “grappling vs. striker” dynamic of this fight in large part by highlighting Mitchell’s impressive submission skills.

    The co-main event between Rafael dos Anjos and Renato Moicano is not featured in the Countdown video due to the last-minute nature of that booking.

    UFC 272 takes place this Saturday, March 5, 2022, from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Neva. You can find the full card and viewing information below followed by the UFC 272 Countdown video.

    Main Card (Pay-Per-View, 8:00 PM ET)

    Jorge Masvidal vs. Colby Covington

    Rafael dos Anjos vs. Renato Moicano

    Edson Barboza vs. Bryce Mitchell

    Kevin Holland vs. Alex Oliveira

    Sergey Spivak vs. Greg Hardy

    Preliminary Card (ESPN/ESPN+, 6:00 PM ET)

    Jamie Mullarkey vs. Jalin Turner

    Yan Xiaonan vs. Marina Rodriguez

    Nicolae Negumereanu vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu

    Mariya Agapova vs. Maryna Moroz

    Early Preliminary Card (ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass, 4:00 PM ET)

    Brian Kelleher vs. Umar Nurmagomedov

    Tim Elliott vs. Tagir Ulanbekov

    Ludovit Klein vs. Devonte Smith

    Dustin Jacoby vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk

    Without further ado, you can check out the UFC 272 Countdown video below!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oxenHOvDV4
  • Masvidal Breaks Down “Nightmare” Hypothetical Match Against GSP

    UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal is always ready for a scrap, as evidenced by his nickname “Gamebred.”

    But he feels that one particular matchup above all others would’ve been a headache to prepare for.

    Masvidal is set to face former friend and former American Top Team teammate Colby Covington in the UFC 272 headliner. It is one of the most anticipated fights of 2022 and a chance for both welterweights to get back into the title shot conversation.

    Masvidal has lost back-to-back fights to welterweight champion Kamaru Usman but remains one of the UFC’s biggest stars. His forward-pushing style to go along with his fight-ready personality has made him a household name in the Octagon.

    Masvidal has faced some of the best fighters in UFC history, including Usman and former UFC champion Benson Henderson.

    During a recent Q+A session on Rumble, Masvidal pointed to former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre as the toughest hypothetical matchup for him.

    “GSP’s one of the best ever. He’s got that fu**ing amazing [ability where] he could wrestle, wrestle, wrestle, or he could strike, he actually had great boxing, you know, very technical. He didn’t have the most power but he would set it up beautifully and get you off your feet.

    Georges St-Pierre
    Georges St-Pierre, Photo Credit: Getty Images

    “It’s one of those fights, it’s like a nightmare matchup for me but those are the fights that I wanted… Obviously, I’m going to put the money on me, I’m gonna be going for his chin the whole time with flying knees, hoping I get him to duck into something bad, you know, and make it into a war but GSP’s one of the best ever. I would have loved to be standing in front of the cage across that guy and just fu**ing giving it my all to take his a** out.” (h/t SportsKeeda)

    St-Pierre retired following a split decision win over Johny Hendricks at UFC 167 but would return to win the middleweight title at UFC 217. He would go back into retirement but has hinted at a potential move to boxing in the future.

    As Masvidal pointed out, St-Pierre’s legacy in the sport of MMA is unquestionable. He remains one of the most talked-about fighters in the history of the UFC and is one of the pioneers of the promotion’s rise in popularity.

    How do you think Jorge Masvidal would’ve fared against Georges St-Pierre?

  • Masvidal Says Fight Against Jake Paul Could Only Happen On The Streets

    As of now, Jorge Masvidal has no plans to get in the ring with undefeated Youtube Star turned boxer, Jake Paul.

    On March 5, MMA fans get to see what could be the grudge match of the year. Masvidal will take on rival and former American Top Team training partner Colby Covington.

    The main event is hyped by pre-fight tension. And when Masvidal fights, there has to be a big check involved. And according to Masvidal, Paul does not have the lucrative pull to book a fight with him.

    The #6 welterweight has fought many big names and made a lot of money in his 50-fight career. Unless the payout is massive, Masvidal considers a fight with Paul a waste of his time.

    “I’ll fight him right now, you know, on my way to the gym. But I prepared my whole life to fight the best of the best. He’s not the best of the best… I’m not doing charity. You’re selling 70,000 PPVs, there’s nothing to talk about. He had a street team handing out free tickets at the event for people to go to the event…” said Masvidal in his interview with Audacy.

    Both times, Masvidal predicted Woodley would defeat Paul. After beating him a second time, the Paul brother called out ” Gamebred” and his former opponent Nate Diaz.

    Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley
    Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley, Photo Credit: Chris O’Meara/Associated Press

    Even then, Masvidal’s main argument for the rejection was that Paul simply cannot afford him. That being said, once Paul’s numbers go up, Masvidal claims he will gladly take on the Ohio-born boxer.

    Jake has done a lot in the past months with remaining undefeated and promoting one of the most anticipated women’s boxing matches ever between Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor. Perhaps a more lucrative future is ahead and he will one day gain Masvidal’s attention to settle their conflict in the ring.

    What are your thoughts on Jorge Masvidal not wanting to fight Jake Paul?

  • Covington Says Masvidal’s Ex-Wife Confirmed He Is A “Two-Pump Chump”

    As we approach fight week for UFC 272, the trash talk between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal is ramping up as expected.

    Since the grudge math between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal has been announced, all of the trash talk has been coming from Masvidal. In fact, “Gamebred” even released an exposé of Covington’s alleged secrets. Gamebred has had other choice things to say about his ex-buddy, and now Covington has begun to fire back now that his training camp has all but wrapped up.

    This is not to say that Covington hasn’t had plenty to say about Masvidal over the years since their falling out. As MMA fans are well aware, Covington has not been one to mince words or pull back on anything that might push the buttons of his intended target. Covington has even gone as far as taking shots at Masvidal as a father and has repeatedly referenced his ex-wife.

    In an interview with Yahoo Sports released Thursday, Covington would again mention Masvidal’s ex-wife, this time as an example of why he is convinced Masvidal won’t be able to keep up with his cardio at UFC 272.

    “I think people know what he’s widely known for,” Covington said when asked about Masvidal’s skill set. “He’s got some fast-twitch muscle fibers. He’s able to explode at any moment.

    “But he’s a two-pump chump, just like his ex-wife used to tell me. So he can’t last with me. He’s gonna gas out in that Octagon. I’m gonna make him quit in front of the world, and it’s gonna be the same time that happened every time we fought behind closed doors. The only difference is now it’s gonna be on pay-per-view and a live audience. So it’s a beautiful thing. I can’t wait.”

    For his part, Covington used the same evidence of bedroom performance to illustrate why he feels his endurance in the cage is second to none and why only one man has been able to push him to the brink.

    “Not too often,” Covington responded when asked about needing to dig into extra gas-tank reserves. “The most trouble I ever had was in the bedroom when I’m putting 10 rounds of four-star cardio together. Not very often there’s a fighter that can push me to that limit. Me and Usman, he was able to get me to that limit, and brought out the best in me, and I brought out the best in him. So I’m looking to do round 3.”

    Before Covington can get to round 3, he will need to get past Masvidal next Saturday. Even still, he might need at least one other victory if he is to earn a third opportunity against UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman.

    Masvidal is also on the same path, as he too wants a third shot at Usman. But as his racy comments reveal, Covington isn’t concerned about his ability to outpace and outlast Jorge Masvidal in the race back to title contention.

    What are your thoughts on these latest provocative comments from Colby Covington toward Jorge Masvidal?

  • Jorge Masvidal Explains Why Beating Covington Must Mean Title Shot

    UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal thinks a win over former American Top Team teammate Colby Covington will earn him a title shot.

    Masvidal will face his friend-turned-foe Covington in the main event of UFC 272. The two top welterweights will settle their ongoing beef in the Octagon in a matchup set for five rounds.

    Masvidal and Covington are both looking to get back into the welterweight title picture after losses to Kamaru Usman. Covington most recently fell to Usman via unanimous decision at UFC 268, and Masvidal is coming off back-to-back losses to Usman at UFC 251 and UFC 261.

    Masvidal and Covington’s chances at another shot at Usman appear to be on life support after falling short in multiple opportunities. But during a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Masvidal sounded optimistic about what a win over Covington would do for his title shot odds.

    “He’s got the number-one ranking, so it’s gotta do something, right?” Masvidal said. “Because those rankings, as much bullshit that I think they are, he does have the number one. So there’s no denying me. If I’m number one, there’s no denying me, and that’s it. What has to happen has to happen.”

    Masvidal was supposed to face Leon Edwards at UFC 269 before pulling out with an injury. He is fully recovered from his injury and appears ready to potentially make another run at the belt in 2022.

    Before his back-to-back losses to Usman, Masvidal earned finishes over Ben Askren and Darren Till, along with a doctor’s stoppage win over Nate Diaz. He remains one of the UFC’s biggest stars and will look to capitalize on another main event opportunity at UFC 272.

    What is your prediction for Jorge Masvidal vs. Colby Covington?

  • Masvidal Disagrees With Trans Swimmer Competing Against Women

    Jorge Masvidal thinks “it’s not fair” transgender Ivy League swimmer Lia Thomas is allowed to compete in the women’s division.

    Recent controversy has stirred up from the dominant performances Lia Thomas puts on for the University of Pennsylvania. As Thomas used to swim for the university’s men’s team, the ongoing debate of transgender persons in sports has reignited.

    Thomas broke several records and received several awards while swimming on the Quakers women’s team. And her achievements have come under heavy scrutiny.

    Lia Thomas
    Lia Thomas, Photo credit: Getty Images

    There is a harsh spotlight beaming on the star transgender athlete. From news channels to the opinions of other athletes, Thomas is unable to swim without immense pressure.

    There are many who disagree with transgender women in women’s sports. For example, Caitlyn Jenner also thinks it is “unfair” to allow transgender women in women’s sports.

    And UFC veteran Jorge Masvidal shares that opinion. (h/t SportsKeeda)

    “It’s such a no-brainer right? It’s not fair. It’s just not. Men should compete against men. If you don’t want to compete against men, it’s not fair to go and compete against women… I’m not trying to diss girls but it’s just different you know. Girls should compete against girls,” said Masvidal.

    He not only disagrees with transwomen in women’s sports, but Masvidal also refuses to let his daughter compete in sports where it is allowed.

    Masvidal has never been one to shy away from honesty. Colby Covington and Nate Diaz can surely attest to that.

    But regardless of the existing members of an unsupportive audience, Thomas has a great future in the sport and at the school. She continues to prove that pressures outside of the pool have yet to diminish her athletic spirit.

    Transgender Women In MMA

    MMA is no stranger to the heavily debated topic, and Masvidal is not the only fighter opposed to it.

    When transgender fighter Fallon Fox was competing, Ronda Rousey refused to fight her, and Joe Rogan was openly honest about his disapproval of her as a contender in the women’s league.

    Fallon Fox
    Fallon Fox, Photo Credit: Championship Fighting Alliance

    Now that Fallon is retired, MMA newcomer and former member of the U.S. Army special forces transgender fighter Alana McLaughlin is the new face of trans women in MMA. And that has come with a lot of backlash.

    Michael Bisping, Joe Rogan, Sean Strickland, and others have voiced their negative opinions about McLaughlin.

    She won her first and only fight last September via submission. However, the win was met with a lot of anger and ridicule.

    Alana McLaughlin
    Alana McLaughlin, Photo Credit: Barcroft Images / Alana McLaughlin

    As of now, it is unclear when she fights again.

    The heated and controversial debate seems to thicken with every transgender athlete’s achievement.

    Although not yet finished making strides, women in sports have come a long way. But the transgender community still has many roadblocks to face.

    What are your thoughts on Jorge Masvidal’s opinion of Lia Thomas competing on UPenn’s women’s swim team?

  • Jorge Masvidal Wants To Put An End To Nate Diaz’s Trash Talk

    BMF Champion Jorge Masvidal won’t pull any punches if a rematch happens against Nate Diaz.

    UFC 272 goes underway on March 5. Masvidal will face his former training partner and rival Colby Covington. The headlining event is sure to drop jaws as pre-fight tension is at an all-time high.

    The two fighters are going back and forth with vicious verbal attacks on social media and interviews, setting up what could be the most hate-fueled fight in recent history. However, a recent uptick in Masvidal’s rivalry with Nate Diaz may bump the Covington fight down a few notches.

    The conflict between Masividal and Diaz has been brewing since their first battle in 2019. The fight ended in a doctor stoppage at the end of round 3. And although Masvidal was the winner and claimed the BMF belt, of course, Nate Diaz would not let that be the end of it.

    Jorge Masvidal, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and Nate Diaz
    Jorge Masvidal, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Nate Diaz; Photo Credit: Getty Images

    Social media would see a lot of tweets from Diaz expressing his honest disapproval of Masvidal as well as mocking him. Because of this, Masvidal feels disrespected by Diaz and would be willing to fight him before a rematch with Usman after the Covington fight.

    “That little fu***** broomstick keeps talking, you’re going to have to go at some point, you know. [When] I take Colby’s a** out, if I gotta wait for Usman, it could be you that gets this a**whooping, bro… Let’s fu***** go, man, I’m gonna break your fu***** face, bro,” said Masvidal (h/t SportsKeeda),

    Many fighters know the game of trash talk. With many fights, it is the foundation to get fans pumped to watch. For Masvidal, he would just love the opportunity to shut Diaz up.

    Another title shot is still on “Gamebred’s” mind. However, it can be put on hold so long as he gets a rematch against Diaz.

    “It’s not a call out. After handling business, I’m going for the title, and if I don’t have time to go for the title, I’m gonna break your fu***** face for all the s*** talking you’ve done,” Masvidal continued.

    Only time will tell if Masvidal and Diaz will run it back. Clearly, though, it is a priority on Masvidal’s list. Fans will have to wait and see if Diaz will be on board.

    What are your thoughts on the prospect of Masvidal vs. Diaz 2?

  • UFC Releases “Covington vs. Masvidal: From Friends To Foe” Trailer

    The UFC has released a new trailer previewing the upcoming UFC 272 grudge match between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington.

    On March 5, the grudge match between Covington and Masvidal that is two years in the making will go down inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Monday, the UFC released a video package to document the story behind the main event. The title of the video is “UFC 272 Look Ahead – Covington vs Masvidal: From Friends to Foes.”

    Weeks ago, Masvidal released his own video documenting the same “friends to foe” narrative, but unlike the UFC, Masvidal’s aim was to “expose” Covington in the video by showing, among other things, his former buddy’s duplicitousness over the years.

    Naturally, the UFC would take a much more balanced approach in their storytelling. The video captures how close Covington and Masvidal initially were and pulls the most biting quotes from both competitors to illustrate how far removed they are from those amicable days.

    You can view the full video of UFC 272 Look Ahead – Covington vs Masvidal: From Friends to Foes below.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_8X–XRSMc

    How do you see the “friends to foe” story between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal ending when the two collide next month?

  • Jorge Masvidal Takes Full Credit For UFC 272 Main Event Placement

    Jorge Masvidal is taking all the credit for being the main event at UFC 272.

    Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington are headed to the main event clash together at UFC 272. This is a rare occasion where a non-title fight is main eventing a pay-per-view. For the UFC to consider a non-title fight for a main event, the bout has to be one that fans are dying to see. The ongoing feud and interest in these two men bring enough fuel to be a good fit for a headliner.

    However, Masvidal believes that it is his star power, not Covington that made this fight worthy of the main event slot.

    “Definitely about (my star power), though he’ll try to take credit for it,” Masvidal told MMA Junkie about what was responsible for the main event billing. “He hasn’t broke, in all his pay-per-views combined, 500,000 pay-per-views. I don’t have to say what I’ve sold. Everybody knows. So it’s definitely solely because of my star power, nothing to do with his.”

    Masvidal and Covington have a long history together. They used to be friends, training partners, and roommates. They had a falling out and have been trash-talking to each other ever since. They are both in the same boat as title contenders in the welterweight division, and them fighting each other seemed to be inevitable.

    Both men have recently lost twice to champion Kamaru Usman, and both are trying to get back to that title shot. Masvidal has been rising in popularity over the last few years with his personality and impressive wins in the Octagon. However, Covington is also one of the more recognized if not popular fighters on the roster. Masvidal feels he is the star in this one, but Covington most likely feels the same way.

    Who do you think holds the bigger star power, Jorge Masvidal or Colby Covington?

  • ATT Owner Says Masvidal/Covington Beef Was Unfixable

    The bad blood between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal will finally be settled at UFC 272.

    At this point, many people know about the feud between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington. They were friends, training partners, and roommates. They used to train together at ATT, one of the most famous MMA gyms in the U.S. The gym is or was home to many top fighters from the UFC to Bellator and boxing. With that many high-quality athletes, there are bound to be some butting heads, however, the beef between Covington and Masvidal was unable to be reconciled.

    The owner of ATT, Dan Lambert spoke about what led to Covington being asked to leave the gym when he spoke to MMA Junkie.

    “Yeah, it got toxic. And it got to the point where it was affecting the gym,” Lambert said. “We’ve had lots of fighters in this gym over the past 25 years. We’ve had people that love each other, we’ve had people that don’t like each other. But we’ve always been able to separate that, keep some professionalism in the gym and not let it affect the team. And their situation, it just got to the point where it was affecting people inside the gym, and I couldn’t keep it under control. And at one point, we had to tell both of ’em to leave.”

    Masvidal has continued to train at ATT while Covington has found his new home elsewhere. It seems the fact that Masvidal “won” the gym in their friendship divorce is the fuel that he is continuing to add to the trash talk fire. Masvidal recently uploaded a message to Covington bragging about the gym and how Covington got kicked out.

    “We try to address situations immediately when we see ’em comin’. It’s one of our benefits for being around for a long time,” Lambert said. “We’ve dealt with a lot of the issues before and learned from things we did right and things we did wrong. This one just kinda—it just kept growing, and growing, and growing. And we tried to find solutions inside the gym to make it work, and we just weren’t successful in doing that. And it finally got to a point where it boiled over and we had to do something drastic. And at that point, we told both guys to leave the gym just ’cause it was out of control.”

    Since his departure from ATT, Covington has been training at MMA Masters in Miami. He left ATT in May of 2020 and since then, has had two fights in the UFC with his new training camp: a win over Tyron Woodley in September 2020 and the recent loss to the champion Kamaru Usman in November of last year.

    Do you think Colby Covington and his new gym will beat Jorge Masvidal and ATT at UFC 272?

  • Jorge Masvidal Hopes For A Late Stoppage Against Covington At UFC 272

    Jorge Masvidal is taking his grudge against Colby Covington as late into the fight as he can.

    A grudge match between former friends and training partners turned bad is going down in the main event of UFC 272. Colby Covington will be taking on Jorge Masvidal for the possible number one contender spot in the welterweight division. There is no love lost between these two. They used to train together at ATT in Florida before having a falling out. Now, they get to settle the score inside the Octagon.

    The lead-up to the fight so far has been filled with trash talk mostly coming from Masvidal’s end. He even recently teased his opponent about being removed from their gym. Through all the drama, it’s all business as usual for Masvidal, but he wouldn’t be upset to have extra time against Covington in the cage.

    “It’s nothing personal. It’s business since I got into it,” Masvidal told MMA Junkie. “I knew the type of people I’d be getting myself involved (with). I knew the options that could happen and so forth and so forth. So it’s somebody I firmly don’t like at all whatsoever, and I’m hoping that the referee, on the way to pulling me off of him, slips on a banana peel and I get some extra shots and really change his life and his face structure.”

    Masvidal is coming into this matchup having lost his last two, both to the champ, Kamaru Usman. Covington is in the same boat: His only two losses in the last few years have been to Usman as well.

    Both of these men have proved that they are among the best at 170 pounds and both want another shot at the belt. They will be doing everything they can inside the Octagon to make sure they beat the other and capture that next chance at Usman, pummeling a nemesis is a bonus.

    Who do you think takes home the victory at UFC 272, Colby Covington or Jorge Masvidal?

  • Masvidal Reveals Why He Never Considered Covington His Best Friend

    Two-time UFC welterweight title challenger Jorge Masvidal has revealed why he never considered upcoming opponent and bitter rival Colby Covington his best friend.

    Next month is set to play host to one of the biggest grudge matches possible in the UFC right now. While Covington’s failed championship charge against reigning 170-pound king Kamaru Usman last November included animosity and trash talk, it didn’t have the history “Chaos” shares with Masvidal.

    In the UFC 272 main event, former American Top Team teammates, roommates, and friends Covington and Masvidal will share the Octagon. While a fiery affair inside the cage is expected, a hate-fueled fight week and press conference is almost a certainty.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ7lN9FIHpU/

    Covington and Masvidal’s friendship collapsed a number of years ago. Ever since, we’ve seen both take jabs at each other on social media and through interviews. However, “Gamebred” has now expanded on the relationship he shared with the former interim titleholder.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura, Masvidal, who still trains at ATT, suggested he never considered Covington his “best friend.” According to the Miami native, his former training partner’s attitude towards his family was a big reason behind that.

    “There’s numerous interviews of him calling me his best friend. I really wouldn’t do that because I would see signs—the way he treated his family, the way he’d talk about his sister, the way he talked about his mom,” said Masvidal. “I was like, ‘Mmm…’

    “There’s three sides to every story: yours, theirs, and the truth. So I was like, ‘Eh, this guy’s interesting.’”

    Masvidal: Covington’s Treatment Of Woodley Revealed His True Character

    I Was Like a Mentor to Him" - Tyron Woodley Opens Up On His Past  Relationship With Colby Covington - Sportsmanor

    But Masvidal says Covington’s family remarks weren’t the only red flag. He went on to cite the #1-ranked welterweight’s treatment of former champion Tyron Woodley as another sign he perceived to be a warning of Covington’s true nature.

    While Covington has previously claimed “The Chosen One” hired him for his UFC 174 clash with Rory MacDonald simply to tee off on him as a sparring partner, Masvidal has a different side to the story.

    According to “Gamebred,” Woodley did a lot to help Covington while he was an amateur, yet Covington still opted to trash his former teammate anyway.

    “Woodley, I was there for the whole thing. The Jon Jones (fallout), I wasn’t there in college with them. But the whole Woodley thing, I was,” claimed Masvidal. “Woodley brought him out, he was giving him like $1,000 a week, something crazy like that when this guy was an amateur just to train with him for four weeks—sponsors, food—and then he came back just talking shit about Woodley in a negative way.

    “Negative. Not (saying), ‘Man, I got more cardio than him. I got better technical—I’d do against Woodley. I can beat him.’ No, no, no, just talking bad, saying what a piece of crap he was, how many this and how many that and all this nonsense that didn’t need to be said,” Masvidal continued. “So I was like, ‘Man, if this guy’s going around talking about everybody like that, that’s just who he is.’ There’s nobody that he respects whatsoever.”

    With those factors combined, Masvidal says he made the decision to begin distancing himself from Covington. In the end, it was a pay dispute between the Californian and his coach that signaled the end of Masvidal and Covington’s friendship.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZAOICSOQmF/

    Given Masvidal’s interview and Covington’s recent posts on social media, it’s clear the pair won’t be waiting for UFC 272 fight week to begin trading barbs.

    If this is a taste of things to come, which it likely is, fans are set for an explosive pre-fight back and forth and, hopefully, an entertaining PPV main event.

    Who do you think will emerge victorious in the UFC 272 grudge match, Jorge Masvidal or Colby Covington?

  • Usman To Attend UFC 272 To Watch Sons Covington/Masvidal Fight

    UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman will be cageside to watch his rivals Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington fight at UFC 272.

    Usman is coming off an electric 2021 inside the Octagon, in which he successfully defended his welterweight title three times. He earned TKO wins over Gilbert Burns and Masvidal, along with another unanimous decision win in a rematch against Covington.

    Usman has become the UFC’s pound-for-pound best after a remarkable rise to the title. Now, he’s no longer the hunter and is now hunted when it comes to the welterweight title picture.

    Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington
    Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington

    Covington and Masvidal, former American Top Team teammates and friends turned enemies, will square off in the main event of UFC 272. During a recent interview with CBS Sports on the Super Bowl 56 Media Row, Usman gave his thoughts on the UFC 272 headliner.

    “It’s a good fight. It’s an intriguing fight,” Usman said. “Other than the Francis Ngannou fight (UFC 270), I haven’t really been to an event to sit and watch in a while. It’s one that I will be there to watch. It’s a great one. I’ll just be sitting there like a proud dad watching my sons fight and do what they do. So I’m excited to watch that one.”

    Usman successfully underwent surgery on a torn ligament in his hand after suffering an injury during his rematch with Covington. Luckily, he won’t miss much time and is targeting a return in July for the UFC’s International Fight Week in Las Vegas.

    As for his next opponent, Usman is widely expected to face Leon Edwards next. The two of them battled earlier in their careers, with Usman earning a unanimous decision victory in 2015.

    Both Masvidal and Covington are looking to get back in the title picture and earn a possible third fight down the line against Usman. But first, they’ll need to settle their beef inside the Octagon at UFC 272.

    What is your prediction for Jorge Masvidal vs. Colby Covington?

  • Masvidal Delivers Personalized Message To Covington Ahead Of Clash

    Now less than a month away from the long-anticipated clash between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington, “Gamebred” took a break from training to deliver a personal message to his former teammate.

    At UFC 272, the talk between Covington and Masvidal will come to an end with the two ex-besties settling their differences with their fists and every functional limb. The pre-fight buildup for this contest had already been established long before the bout was announced, as the two outspoken personalities have been bickering back and forth since their falling out three years ago.

    Recently, Masvidal showed that there is still plenty of room for fight promotion when he “exposed” Covington with a five-minute video intended to reveal his former buddy’s fraudulent ways. Now, back at the American Top Team gym where both men used to train together as teammates, Masvidal sent a personalized message to Covington

    “At the homing temple, home to some real motherfuckers left and right. I’m not the only one here that’s a bad motherfucker. Many bad motherfuckers here. Bring out your bitch ass that got kicked out from here. Damn it. I know it hurts every time you see that shit. I know what a sensitive bitch you are and how you read comments and cry. I can’t imagine, every time you see this symbol (pans to ATT logo), it just hurts, man. 

    “Keep talking shit, though. I can’t wait, man. March 5 is getting closer, so is this knee to your temple. Not only am I gonna break your face in a very violent way, but the UFC’s gonna see you as such a liability that they’re gonna kick you out, bro. And you’re just gonna be back to Indian reservations where you can fight, maybe you can co-main event or some shit like that because I don’t even think you can main event after I’m done with you in any show.

    “I’m gonna fuck you up, man. Keep talking that shit, though, man. March 5 can’t come close enough.”

    Masvidal would then close with a remix of his buddy Yoel Romer’s famous “See you soon, boi” catchphrase:

    “See you soon, bitch,” Masvidal concluded. “Never forget.”

    Masvidal was sure to tag Covington to better ensure that his message arrives safely at his former roommate’s doorstep. Covington has been relatively quiet by his standards since this grudge match was announced, but you can expect that to change dramatically in the coming weeks.

    In the meantime, one thing Covington does want Masvidal to know is that regardless of the support “Gamebred” may have from the ATT gym, it is he, not Masvidal, who Donald Trump will be rooting for.

    While that has not been confirmed by Trump, one thing that has been confirmed is that this score between these two enemies will be settled on March 5. And there is one thing that Masvidal said that needs no confirmation and is a straight fact:

    March 5 can’t come soon enough.

    What are your thoughts on Jorge Masvidal’s message to Colby Covington?

  • Colby Covington Blasts Masvidal After Claim That Trump’s Taking His Side

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington denies the notion that Jorge Masvidal has the support of former U.S. president Donald Trump.

    After months and years of bad blood boiling between Covington and Masvidal, the two welterweights will go to battle at UFC 272. The former friends turned enemies will finally square off after a long period of fans clamoring for the matchup to happen.

    Covington has long claimed that he’s Trump’s favorite fighter, despite not voting for him during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He did support Trump in 2020 and was a guest of his during one of the presidential debates against Joe Biden.

    The mental warfare between Covington and Masvidal is underway ahead of their fight. During the recent UFC 270 weigh-in show, Covington blasted Masvidal for claiming that the former president is rooting for him in their upcoming fight.

    “I’m still team captain,” Covington said. “I’m still Jorge’s daddy, and he’s just following in the footsteps of his daddy. He wants to be just like me so much that he wants to do everything I do. But let’s be honest, did Jorge even vote for Donald Trump? Because I know I did. I’d love for the voters out there to go look it up and see if Jorge actually voted for Trump. I don’t know if they let felons vote for Trump. It’s good we have a felon on the Republican side because there’s so many felons and criminals on the liberal side.”

    Covington and Masvidal are both coming off of losses to UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman in 2021. Masvidal got knocked out by Usman at UFC 261, while Covington lost in a title rematch at UFC 268.

    In addition to the desire for both fighters to stay relevant in the welterweight title picture, bragging rights are on the line between Masvidal and Covington. Depending on how their fight plays out at UFC 272, this could be the first chapter to a potential all-time rivalry in the UFC.

    What is your prediction for Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal?

  • Jorge Masvidal “Exposes” Colby Covington With Video Release

    As far as Jorge Masvidal is concerned, Colby Covington has been officially exposed.

    The biggest theme heading into the UFC 272 main event between Masvidal and Colby Covington isn’t about two top contenders going at it. In fact, it isn’t about anything competitive or sportsmanlike at all. On the contrary, it is all the unsportsmanlike conduct that has helped create the true primary theme going into this grudge match: best friends turned bitter enemies.

    Tuesday, Masvidal promised to release an exposé of his former buddy, roommate, and training partner Covington. And boy, did he ever follow through on that promise last night.

    Below, you can view all five minutes and 48 seconds of Masvidal’s exposé. Here are some of the subjects you can expect to encounter during your viewing experience:

    • Who is the real “Street Judas” of this pairing?
    • The swift friend-to-foe switchup from Covington
    • “Lines you don’t cross” that were allegedly crossed
    • Former teammates’ and acquaintances’ testimonies on Covington’s character
    • General contradictions from Covington, such as his own standard of quality corner instructions and his opinion of Kamaru Usman.
    • Allegedly paid female “talent”
    • Confession to a fan that humility is “not what sells”
    • Back full circle to just who is the real “Street Judas”

    It should also be noted that this is all just Part 1 and that Masvidal intends on releasing additional installments at an undisclosed time.

    Without further ado and preview, you can view Part 1 of Jorge Masvidal’s exposé of Colby Covington below.

    What is your review on Jorge Masvidal’s mini-documentary/exposé of former best bud Colby Covington?

  • Quote: Chimaev/Burns Is A Meaningful Fight, Masvidal/Covington Isn’t

    Ali Abdelaziz has suggested the rumored fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns is much more “meaningful” for the welterweight division than the UFC 272 main event grudge match between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal.

    After the withdrawal of Max Holloway saw some re-shuffling for the third and fourth pay-per-views of the year, UFC 272 was left without its originally scheduled bantamweight and featherweight title fights, and in need of a new headliner.

    What better replacement than two former friends and teammates-turned bitter rivals hashing out their differences for five rounds?

    On March 5, fans will be treated to exactly that as former title challengers Covington and Masvidal look to settle their differences in a unique non-title main event.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYr6znYsr42/

    While the backstory and feud make this one of the most anticipated headliners of the year for fans and pundits, one man believes it has little effect on the 170-pound weight class.

    During an interview with MMA Junkie, Abdelaziz, a renowned MMA manager, suggested that given both men are 0-2 against reigning champion Kamaru Usman, the UFC 272 main event lacks any real stakes in the context of the division. Instead, he believes one of his clients’ rumored next fight is the one to watch for at welterweight.

    Talk of a fight between rising star Chimaev and #2-ranked contender Burns has existed for a while now and has certainly intensified in recent weeks. Abdelaziz, who manages “Durinho” and used to work with “Borz,” believes that matchup is much more meaningful than the March PPV main event.

    “Listen, it doesn’t matter who Gilbert is gonna fight next. Gilbert, this is what he’s built for, he likes to fight. It can be anybody, Gilbert’s gonna put his hand up… If it’s Khamzat, Gilbert’s gonna fight Khamzat,” said Abdelaziz. “Great fight, I think it’s a great fight; one of the best. This is a meaningful fight. They’ve got the Masvidal and Colby (fight), I don’t think it’s a meaningful fight. I think Khamzat and Gilbert is a meaningful fight. Whoever wins can fight for the title. You’ve got the other two guys, they’re 0-2 against the champion.

    “I think (Chimaev vs. Burns) is a meaningful fight for the division,” added Abdelaziz. “Gilbert is a very good test. Gilbert (was) very close to becoming a champion. He’s the only guy to ever come close to even wobbling Kamaru or punching him… But I think if this fight happens, Gilbert is in. And I know Khamzat is probably in, too. Now it’s up to the UFC. They have to pull the trigger and make this fight happen.”

    Chimaev & Burns Seemingly Agreed To UFC 273 Clash

    Reports suggesting the UFC was targeting Chimaev’s fifth Octagon outing to be against Burns first emerged towards the back end of last year. While they initially pointed towards a January clash, talk seemed to disappear for a number of weeks, leading many to believe the promotion had gone in a different direction.

    But earlier this month, both the Brazilian and the Chechen-born Swede showed that the possibility of their booking was alive and well.

    In a story posted to Instagram by Chimaev, private messages exchanged between the two welterweight contenders appeared to show them agreeing to a fight on April 9, a date slated to host the UFC 273 pay-per-view.

    With a featherweight title bout between Alexander Volkanovski and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung already set for the event, as well as the long-awaited bantamweight unification showdown between Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan, the addition of Chimaev and Burns would certainly strengthen the PPV into one of the most stacked of the year so far.

    If the fight comes to fruition, who do you think will win, Gilbert Burns or Khamzat Chimaev?

  • Jorge Masvidal Thinks Donald Trump Favors Him Over Colby Covington

    Jorge Masvidal thinks he has the support of former U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of his grudge match with Colby Covington at UFC 272.

    Masvidal is set to face his former American Top Team teammate and friend Covington in the UFC 272 main event. It’s arguably one of the most highly anticipated welterweight fights in recent memory.

    Masvidal and Covington may not have a lot in common anymore, but both of them have a history with former president Trump leading up to their fight. Trump attended Masvidal’s win over Nate Diaz for the BMF belt at UFC 244, and Masvidal was a big supporter of his 2020 re-election campaign.

    Masvidal also has a strong relationship with the Trump family as a whole and teamed up with Donald Trump Jr. to host a “Fighters Against Socialism” bus tour leading up to the election.

    Image via Covington’s Twitter account

    Covington has also been a vocal supporter of Trump over the years, especially after his win over Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 225. Just weeks after the fight, Covington was invited to the White House to meet with Trump alongside UFC President Dana White.

    Covington also attended one of the presidential debates between Trump and Joe Biden in 2020.

    Nevertheless, Masvidal believes he gets more love from the former president. During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Masvidal gave his opinion on who the 45th president will be rooting for on March 5.

    “There’s only one. Gamebred…for a fact, man,” Masvidal said. “Ask this dude. He knows what a fighter looks like. He was around boxing forever. He knows what a nuthugger, ass-kissing machine like Colby looks like. Colby tried to kiss his hand and Trump was weirded out. He tried to pull that shit back. That’s on video, man….

    “It’s me all day. Did Trump FaceTime with Colby’s ass and his kids? No. Trump did that with me.”

    The buildup to UFC 272 is expected to be drama-filled leading up to the fight between Masvidal and Covington. It’s unknown whether or not Trump plans to attend the fight in Las Vegas, but he’s likely to be a fixture of the pre-fight trash talk.

    What is your prediction for Jorge Masvidal vs. Colby Covington?

  • Askren Believes Covington Fight Is Crucial For Masvidal’s Popularity

    Ben Askren doesn’t agree with Chael Sonnen that UFC 272 is a career-ending fight per se, but he knows Jorge Masvidal needs to defeat Colby Covington to regain his popularity.

    Masvidal became a massive star in 2019 after knocking out Darren Till in London. He followed that up with a five-second flying knee KO over Ben Askren and then TKO’d Nate Diaz to become the BMF champ. Since then, however, he has suffered two-straight losses to Kamaru Usman for the belt and will now headline UFC 272 opposite Covington.

    It’s a crucial fight, as the two are bitter rivals and Sonnen has said if “Gamebred” loses, it would be career-ending. Yet, for Askren, he doesn’t think it would end his career if he loses, but it would derail his hype and popularity a ton.

    “Well Chael understands the fight business better than almost anyone so generally when he says things, there’s a lot of validity to it,” Askren said to MMA Island about Masvidal. “And so I would not say it’s a career-ender, but unfortunately, people will take offense to this, but I made him a huge star, right? It was at my expense. I don’t want to say he was a nobody before that, but he was kind of like a moderately popular fighter who kind of had maybe a hardcore following but wasn’t known to a broader audience and then the event with me happened, unfortunately, and he became let’s say, one of the top-five stars in the sport and then obviously he parlayed that with the Nate Diaz fight. 

    Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington
    USA Today and Sports Illustrated

    “Nate Diaz is not the toughest opponent at welterweight but then once he got past that fight, the Usman fights were pretty non-competitive and he hasn’t really fought anyone else in the upper-echelon of that division,” Askren continued about Masvidal. “So Colby is another guy, the upper echelon of the division, and if he loses to him, I think it probably knocks his popularity a couple of levels and he’s got to go low. Now can he regain the popularity on some level? Possibly.”

    As both Askren and Sonnen say, UFC 272 will be a massive fight for Jorge Masvidal’s star power.

    Do you think UFC 272 is a career-ending fight for Jorge Masvidal if he loses?

  • Cormier Expects Covington/Masvidal To Be Closer Than Many Think

    Daniel Cormier feels the upcoming fight between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal will be a close one.

    There is an exciting welterweight fight looming. Former title challengers Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal have agreed to meet in the main event of UFC 272. That fight is interesting on many levels: because of the history between these two, because they both last lost to the champ, and because it is a nontitle fight headliner. One man who believes that this fight might be closer than some people think is Daniel Cormier.

    “I think stylistically for Colby Covington, this is a great fight, yes, because he feels like he can go and ground Jorge Masvidal,” Cormier said on a recent episode of the DC & RC podcast (via Sportskeeda).

    “A lot of people from within the sport of mixed martial arts think that it’s going to look like Robbie Lawler vs. Colby Covington, where Colby is just trying to overwhelm him with this pressure, but what you don’t understand is the improvements that Jorge Masvidal has made in wrestling and his ability to counter a lot of the things that Covington may have been able to do to him in the past years.

    “The guy is a much better fighter today and he’s a much better fighter because of his interactions with Kamaru Usman, even though he lost those fights, he got better preparing for the champion.”

    Since Covington and Masvidal are both coming off losses to Kamaru Usman, this fight could be a path back to the title. Both men are still at the top of their game, and if Usman were to lose his next fight, the winner of this UFC 272 main event could very well receive another title opportunity.

    With that being said, Covington and Masvidal know each other well. Some people think this will be beneficial to them. They used to be friends and roommates back in their college days.

    A lot has changed since these two had a falling out. Both have improved greatly in their fighting skills. Masvidal has only lost to the champion in the last three years. The same goes for Covington, who has only lost to Usman in the last five years.

    Cormier is a former champion turned analyst. He now makes his living picking apart fights and making his opinions known. As a former Olympic wrestler, he thinks the ground game will play a big role in this bout.

    Who do you think will win Colby Covington or Jorge Masvidal?

  • O’Malley: Masvidal Can Piece Up Covington If He Defends The Takedowns

    UFC bantamweight Sean O’Malley has given his take on the upcoming UFC 272 main event between former title challengers Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal.

    After Alexander Volkanovski’s trilogy fight with Max Holloway collapsed and his next defense was pushed back to UFC 273, the March pay-per-view was left needing a new headliner. What better replacement than one of the most highly-anticipated grudge matches in the UFC right now?

    Former friends and teammates Covington and Masvidal will settle their differences inside the Octagon on March 5. While predictions will differ for the contest, one thing that isn’t up for debate is that fans are in store for a heated and entertaining build-up.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYr6znYsr42/

    O’Malley Reveals His “Gut Feeling”

    Both Covington and Masvidal are coming off losses to reigning welterweight king Kamaru Usman. “Gamebred” fell to back-to-back setbacks against the champion at UFC 251 and 261. “Chaos,” meanwhile, failed in his attempts to reach the 170-pound mountaintop at UFC 245 and UFC 268.

    But despite failing to dethrone “The Nigerian Nightmare,” Covington undoubtedly came closer to doing so than Masvidal, who was knocked out cold by Usman last April.

    Nevertheless, the Miami native had been in fine form before colliding with Usman, securing finishes against Darren Till, Ben Askren, and Nate Diaz in 2019. Rising bantamweight star O’Malley believes Masvidal could return to that level of form when he enters the Octagon with Covington in March.

    “Jorge has never really been taken down and just beaten up for 25 minutes, ever in his career,” O’Malley said on an episode of his YouTube podcast. “If anyone was going to do it, you think it would have been Usman. Usman didn’t go out there, take him down, and maul him. He did knock him out but I don’t know.

    “That’s a sick fight. I just get a gut feeling right now that Masvidal could definitely piece up Colby if he shuts down the striking or shuts down the takedowns,” added O’Malley. “Colby brings an insane pace, but Masvidal, that’s going to be such a sick fight. This is the fight I’m most hyped about out of all the big ones.” (h/t Pundit Arena)

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZAOICSOQmF/

    While the fight announcement is still fresh and the clash weeks away, the trash talk and social media exchanges have already begun.

    Given Covington’s antics prior to his rematch with Usman, we can expect an even more bitter build-up this time around, especially given the former interim champ’s history with former ATT teammate Masvidal.

    How do you see the UFC 272 main event between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington playing out?