They were once best friends. After things went South, they agreed to settle their differences in the Octagon. Except they weren’t ever settled. We look at Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal’s relationship.
Introduction
In the world of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), friendships often form and then dissipate amidst intense rivalries and the fierce competition that accompany them. Over the years, we’ve seen some sour rivalries, including Liddell and Ortiz, Cormier and Jones, McGregor and Khabib, and more recently, Adesanya and Pereira.
One friendship that seemed unbreakable was the early bond between Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington and Jorge ‘Gamebred’ Masvidal. Both fighters, known for their charismatic personalities and explosive fighting styles, shared a special connection long before they became household names in the UFC. Let’s delve into the intriguing story of how Covington and Masvidal’s friendship bloomed and eventually transformed into a heated rivalry.
Early days
Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal first crossed paths in the early days of their MMA careers. Both fighters hailed from American Top Team (ATT), a renowned MMA gym in Coconut Creek, Florida. It was while training at the gym that their friendship blossomed. Training together, pushing each other’s limits, and sharing the same passion for the sport, Covington and Masvidal formed a tight bond that extended beyond the gym, leading to them spending a period of time living together.
They related to each other in the sense that they both struggled to make ends meet, training relentlessly while living a lifestyle far less glamorous than the present day. It was a grind on the way up and one they mostly did together.
Covington and Masvidal often traveled together to various regional MMA events to support one another. They were even each other’s cornermen, offering advice to help one another beat up their opponent. Since 2020, one of their main focuses has been beating each other up.
As Covington and Masvidal’s careers progressed, their friendship began to face strains and tensions. Both fighters had their sights set on the welterweight championship, which ultimately led to a collision course with one another. After ‘Chaos’ captured the interim welterweight title, Covington publicly criticized Masvidal for his perceived lack of support and a failure to fulfill his corner duties during the fight. These accusations were one of the many things which ignited a fiery rivalry that would cause irreparable damage to their relationship.
American Top Team
American Top Team (ATT), based in Coconut Creek, Florida, is one of the world’s most renowned and successful MMA gyms. Boasting a roster of elite fighters, including stars such as Amanda Nunes and Dustin Poirier, ATT has become synonymous with excellence in MMA.
Colby Covington began his MMA journey as a member of the American Top Team, training alongside some of the sport’s biggest names. Covington’s hard work and dedication led to some notable wins while under the wing of owner Dan Lambert, but his controversial remarks and divisive personality began to strain his relationships within the gym.
The turning point in Covington’s relationship with American Top Team came in the lead-up to his highly anticipated bout against then-welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. Covington’s political and controversial statements drew a sharp divide among his teammates and coaches at ATT, with many feeling that his public persona was overshadowing the gym’s values and brand.
Another issue emerged: Colby Covington’s alleged failure to pay his coaches at ATT. The accusations of non-payment have added another layer of animosity to the ongoing feud. Covington’s former teammates and coaches have publicly criticized his failure to honor his financial obligations, highlighting the lack of respect they perceive in his behavior.
This divide led to a heated confrontation between Covington and several ATT members, including Jorge Masvidal, which further strained relationships within the team and his former best friend. Covington left American Top Team and established his own training camp, Colby Covington Incorporated (CCI) which he said was done from his own accord, although Masvidal has claimed that Covington was kicked out of the gym.
Covington’s Persona
Colby Covington is one of the most polarizing figures in the UFC. He is known for his outspoken personality and his willingness to say and do whatever it takes to get under his opponents’ skin. But where did this persona come from? And how has it helped him become one of the biggest stars in the sport?
Covington was born in Clovis, California, in 1988. He started training in wrestling at a young age, and he quickly became one of the best wrestlers in his state. He went on to wrestle at the University of Iowa, where he was a two-time All-American.
After college, Covington turned his attention to mixed martial arts. He quickly rose through the ranks, and he made his UFC debut in 2014. He won his first six fights in the UFC, and he was quickly seen as a rising star in the welterweight division.
In 2017, Covington got his first big break when he was given a title shot against Tyron Woodley. Covington lost the fight, but he put on a strong performance and earned a lot of respect from fans and critics alike.
After the loss to Woodley, Covington decided to change his persona. He started talking trash to his opponents and playing up the role of the villain. This new persona, which he dubbed “Chaos,” helped Covington become one of the most popular fighters in the UFC.
Covington’s persona has helped him sell tickets and get attention, but it has also made him a target for criticism. Some people have accused him of being fake and of only playing a character. But Covington has defended his persona, saying that it is just an extension of his true personality.
Whatever the case may be, there is no doubt that Covington’s persona has helped him become one of the biggest stars in the UFC. He is a polarizing figure, but there is no denying that he is one of the most entertaining fighters in the sport.
He has given nicknames to many of his opponents, some of which are more insulting than others. Here are some of the nicknames that Covington has given to other fighters:
- Conor McGregor: Con Man McGregor
- Dustin Poirier: Dustbin Poirier, Dustin Soyrier
- Kamaru Usman: Marty Fake Newsman, The CEO of EPO
- Jorge Masvidal: Street Judas, Journeyman Jorge
- Leon Edwards: Leon Scott
- Rafael dos Anjos: Rafael Dos Nachos
- Petr Yan: Cheater Pan
The Feud Intensifies
Since parting ways with ATT, the animosity between Covington and his former team has only grown.
Jorge Masvidal went on the Joe Rogan podcast and discussed his rivalry with Colby Covington, giving the following insight into his opinion regarding the origin of the feud:
”He’s a bitch, bro, and he showed his true colors for the money, for the pay-per-view(s), he would talk about my kids, my family to maybe sell extra pay-per-views. I was his mentor. I was an established pro in Strikeforce when he [Covington] came over to American Top Team. I had an apartment over at American Top Team for about a year and change”.
Masvidal then talked about the time they lived together:
”Colby broke his hand, his girlfriend kicked him out because he had given her herpes and s**t. He had nowhere to live, so he asked if he could crash on my couch and I was like, ‘Yeah fuck it bro’ – we’re both on this journey together, we train together, we play poker together. I basically fed this dude; he lived on my couch for a year and didn’t give me a dollar because he didn’t have a job and had a broken hand. It’s all documented; it’s on YouTube him saying, ‘Jorge Masvidal is my best friend. If it wasn’t for Jorge, I wouldn’t be here.”
Masivdal said that attention started to gravitate towards him as he had success in his career, and instead of Covington being happy for his best friend, he felt jealous and started to use things against him.
Masvidal said that his striking coach trained Covington all the way from his amateur days up until his bout with Rafael Dos Anjos. Masvidal claims there was a handshake deal between Covington and his coach for five percent of any earned revenue. Masvidal claims that Covington never stuck to his part of the deal.
”As soon as Colby made money, what did he do? He didn’t pay my coach. So since then, I was like, ‘bro, I’m gonna take a f**kin bat to his neck,’ and my coach was like, don’t do it, bro, you’ll fight him, and then you’ll get him [revenge] for both of us.”
The fight: Covington Vs. Masvidal
The two men finally met in the octagon at UFC 272 on March 5, 2022.
‘Gamebred’ came out aggressive, intent on hurting his opponent. People always say, ‘Don’t fight with anger’ – almost impossible given the history between these two. Masvidal landed a few good shots early, but ‘Chaos’ Covington was able to weather the early onslaught.
Covington then took control of round two, and he used his wrestling acumen to take Masvidal to the ground. Most of the round stayed there, with ‘Chaos’ able to land some good ground and pound strikes. Masvidal was unable to find his rhythm as we approached the halfway point of the fight and had started to look fatigued from the relentless pressure from Covington.
The fourth round started better for Masvidal as he came out aggressively before Covington regained control, again taking his nemesis to the ground and controlling the fight from there. The rest of the fight followed a similar pattern.
Covington was the clear winner, winning via unanimous decision by a wide berth, improving his record and taking him to 17-3.
Some fans get annoyed when fighters are very personal during the build-up to a fight, only for them to hug and show respect to each other afterward. There was none of that on display here as Covington stuck his tongue out at his rival after the final buzzer and grabbed his testicles. A very tired Masvidal still wanted to continue fighting, but the security now present in the octagon would prevent that from happening.
Although the fight had finished in the octagon, it hadn’t finished outside (allegedly).
The alleged incident, Masvidal to stand trial
The incident allegedly occurred two weeks after Masvidal and Covington fought each other at UFC 272. According to police reports, Covington was leaving the Papi Steak restaurant in Miami when he was approached by Masvidal and two other men. Masvidal (allegedly) was wearing a surgical mask when he punched Covington in the face several times, causing him to fall to the ground. Masvidal then fled the scene but Covington claimed to police that he was able to identify the culprit as being his former training partner.
Covington suffered a broken tooth and a laceration to his face. He was treated at a local hospital and released. Masvidal was arrested shortly after the incident. He was released on bail after posting a $5,000 bond.
Masvidal has pleaded not guilty to the charges and if convicted, Masvidal could face up to 15 years in prison. is set to stand trial this summer. Masvidal is facing charges of aggravated battery and criminal mischief, for which he denies.
Discussion about this post