A five round non-title bout will headline UFC 272 on March 5 as Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington will finally settle their differences in a grudge match that has been years in the making.
The UFC will be headlining their March 5 event with a grudge match years in the making. ESPN reports that a non-title bout between former title challengers Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington will be the main event, after the previously reported pairing of Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway fell through.
Cageside Press confirmed the match-up with a source close to the situation following ESPN’s initial report.
Breaking: Former friends turned foes Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington will headline UFC 272 on March 5, UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell told @bokamotoESPN.
(via @espnmma) pic.twitter.com/b3uubBMLEs
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 11, 2022
Masvidal (35-15) will be looking to return to form after back-to-back losses against reigning champion Kamaru Usman. A professional since 2003, “Gamebred” has become one of the biggest draws in the sport following a breakout year in 2019 that saw him win the one-of-a-kind “BMF” title. Masvidal was previously scheduled to fight Leon Edwards this past December before an injury in camp forced him to withdraw from the fight.
Covington (16-3) is also coming off a loss to Usman in what was a competitive contest this past November. “Chaos” has emerged as one of the top contenders in the division following victories over former champions Robbie Lawler, Tyron Woodley, and Rafael dos Anjos. Covington and Masvidal had been in talks for a bout last year, following a possible coaching stint on The Ultimate Fighter, before Masvidal was successful in electing to pursue an immediate title rematch.
The two have spoke disparagingly of each other in the past several years, with rumors that the friction between the two was the reason for Covington’s departure from American Top Team in Florida. The two were roommates for a time and Masvidal was in Covington’s corner when the latter won the interim championship in 2018.
The event is expected to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The previously reported fights featuring featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski, and Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan, are likely to move to April.
