UFC: Colby Covington Targeting Fight With Jorge Masvidal Next
Colby Covington vs Jorge Masvidal in Miami could be on the horizon for the UFC. Following his victory over former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley at UFC Vegas 11, ‘Chaos’ called out both the current champion Kamaru Usman, and Jorge Masvidal.
Speaking to Submission Radio (as transcribed by MMA Fighting), Covington said that facing Masvidal next is the fight that makes the most sense, however.
“This needs to be settled,” Covington said. “We’re the top fighters in the world, his hype is coming to an end, and I want to be the one to put it to an end. I’m sick of him talking to the media and not having to account for his words.”
Colby Covington vs Jorge Masvidal
Covington continued to say that he has already been offered a fight with Masvidal and accepted.
“Dana White came up to me after my fight immediately and said, ‘Hey, we want to do you versus Street Judas Masvidal.’ I accepted right on that night, in that minute,” Covington continued. He knows I’m on board, the UFC knows I’m on board, now it’s just about getting Street Judas Masvidal onboard. That guy is scared. He’s scared of my shadow. If my shadow was around him, he’d be running. So who knows if he’ll show up to the Octagon.
“I don’t want to have to beat him up in the streets of Miami because I am the King of Miami, but I don’t want to beat him up in the streets of Miami, because if I beat him up there, no one is going to pay his hospital bills. At least if I go out there and expose him in front of the world in the UFC octagon on live television, then he’ll get his medical bills paid for.”
After Masvidal stepped in on short notice to challenge Kamaru Usman at UFC 251, losing via unanimous decision, the UFC was believed to be looking to make the rematch between ‘Gamebred’ and Nate Diaz. And although the promotion has moved on from the idea, Covington believes Jorge still wants to take the easier option and fight the Stockton-native.
“The thing is, Jorge is gonna have to show up to fight me one day,” Covington said. “He’s got to pay his ex-wife’s lawyer fees, he’s got to pay alimony payments, he’s got some other payments he’s got to pay, so he’s gonna be broke soon, he’s gonna come running to daddy, and he knows the only money fight he’s getting is me. I’m his money fight. That other fight they’re trying to do with that Soy Boy, (Nate Diaz) they’re not trying to do that fight. That’s just a fight he’s begging for because he won it one-sided and now he’s looking for an easy fight.
“This is the fight that’s being presented to him, it’s the only fight that should be made, and it’s the biggest fight, probably, that they can make in the UFC right now. It’s a pay-per-view main event, it’s a five-rounder, it’s an exciting matchup with fireworks on the line. I’m not gonna be looking to dance on his feet like Marty Fakenewsman (Kamaru Usman) did, I’m gonna be looking to dance on his face, break his face, and he’s leaving that octagon in a body bag. Mark my words.”
Covington suggests that the fight between himself and Masvidal should take place in Miami, where both fighters reside and once trained together.
“It’s got to be a PPV main event,” Covington continued. “There’s no doubt about it.We’re two of the biggest draws in the company and we just so happen to be in the same weight class, and it just so happens we used to be best friends. I think the best place to propose it for would be American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. I think that would be a great ticket and hopefully, by the time fans come back, December or January. It’s perfect, it aligns perfect, and there’s a big market for MMA in Miami. People want to see fighting in Miami and I think the UFC needs to come back to Miami.”
With the UFC on board, Covington believes the only potential stumbling block is Masvidal himself.
“It’s all in Street Judas Masvidal’s court,” he said. “He doesn’t want this fight because he knows what’s going to happen, deep down inside. He can say whatever he wants, he said a lot of stuff before, but if you guys didn’t notice, look at him now. He’s silent. He’s got nothing to say because he knows what’s coming, he knows what’s in front of him. He knows he’s gonna get embarrassed in front of the world.”
Nate Diaz Targeting Rematch With Jorge Masvidal
Covington is not the only one lobbying for a fight with Masvidal, however. Nate recently put out a video titled “Round 4” that implied he still wants to run it back with Jorge. Their first fight at UFC 244 was stopped after the 3rd round due to a cut over Diaz’s eye.
Speaking at the UFC 253 post fight press conference, UFC president Dana White suggested he was in favour of doing Masvidal vs Covington first, however.
“How do you not make that fight? That’s the fight that makes sense,” Dana said in regard to Masvidal vs Covington. “The Nate Diaz rematch is going to be there no matter what happens.”
Would you rather see Jorge Masvidal face Colby Covington, or run it back with Nate Diaz next?
See also: