UFC 272: Bragging Rights and Elite Standing on the Line in Covington vs Masvidal Grudge Match

By
Gabriel Gonzalez
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Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal, UFC 272
Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal, UFC 272 ceremonial weigh-in Credit: Gabriel Gonzalez/Cageside Press

There will be more than bragging rights on the line when friends turned enemies Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal finally collide at UFC 272.

Despite being one of the most consistent performers in the UFC’s competitive welterweight division, there are plenty of questions surrounding Colby Covington.  After posting an impressive 16-3 mark in his career, “Chaos” is regarded as one of the biggest stylistic challenges in the division behind his impressive cardio and debilitating high pressure attack.  It is an approach that has led him to victories against the likes of former champions Rafael dos Anjos, Tyron Woodley, and Robbie Lawler.  And yet, he enters Saturday with his back against the wall in terms of a return to the title shot.

Ironically, most point toward his situation with his upcoming foe and former team in American Top Team as the source of the cloud that looms over him.  After being expelled from the gym in Coconut Creek and joining the neighboring MMA Masters team in Florida, Covington went 1-1 with the victory over Woodley and a loss despite a considerable effort against champion Kamaru Usman.  Is he as prepared as he was previously when working with the preeminent team in the sport?  Only he knows for certain.  That said, the fact that it is unanimously understood that his departure was his own doing lends itself to the idea that he has put himself at a disadvantage as he tries to meet his same standards as before.

For Jorge Masvidal, Saturday’s contest is about a lot more than finally delivering what he feels is a comeuppance for his former teammate.  There is no question that his personal brand in the last three years has exploded quite unlike any fighter in the modern era.  After his seminal 2019 campaign, the “BMF” champion of the UFC became one of the biggest stars in the sport with an ability to draw more than several of the UFC’s champions.  If you need any further evidence, the promotion moved two championship bouts to another card upon the addition of the non-title Masvidal vs. Covington fight to the event.

Now comes the sobering reality.  Masvidal has been inactive in the past two years, fighting only once in each twelve month span and losing both contests.  Furthermore, his loss to Usman last April was among the most devastating of his career as he fell victim to a Knockout of the Year candidate in his home state.  At 37 years old, nearly 20 years as a professional, and with two losses to the current champion, it is a fair question to ask if “Gamebred” has reached his ceiling in the cage.  An impressive victory would certainly keep him in the conversation of top attractions in the sport, but a third consecutive loss would hurt the drawing power of any superstar and he is no exception.

The winner of the bout will have any number of options.  For Covington, a bout with any number of the top five welterweights would make sense as he looks to continue building his resume in pursuit of securing another shot at UFC gold down the line.  The same is true for Masvidal, though other marquee bouts are possible such as one with occasional welterweight Conor McGregor.

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