It’s been four years since Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington clashed in the UFC but the disdain shared between the former American Top Team teammates is likely never going to end.
The latest salvo fired in this rivalry came from Covington after he filed a six-figure lawsuit against Masvidal for an attack outside a Miami Beach restaurant that happened just days after their fight in 2022. Masvidal eventually plead guilty to misdemeanor battery to close the criminal case but now Covington is seeking damages in excess of $100,000 claiming he suffered “bodily injury and resulting pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, physical impairment, mental anguish, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, expense of hospitalization, medical and nursing care and treatment.”
While he couldn’t directly address the allegations, Masvidal considers Covington the one opponent during his career who he continued to beef with after the fight was over.
“For the most part, I get along with everybody,” Masvidal said on Deep Waters. “Everyone that I fought, it’s like I’m cool with them afterwards. If I see them, I share a meal with them. I’ll f*cking hang out, talk some shit.
“But just one rat-ass motherf*cker, it’s literally a rat. I shouldn’t even say his name because he’s already suing me. Colby Covington’s the only one I really never messed with like that.”
Covington’s lawsuit is still working its way through the court system so there’s no telling when that could potentially go to trial or if a settlement could be reached between the fighters.
While the lawsuit is still ongoing, Masvidal has also been preparing for his eventual return to the UFC with Dana White confirming this past weekend at UFC 327 that the two sides have been engaging in talks.
Masvidal is confident a deal eventually gets done but he admits negotiations with the UFC are never easy.
“We’re talking,” Masvidal said. “They owe me some money for some cleaning bills and shit, too. We’re definitely talking. We’ve been talking for a minute. It’s just we haven’t landed [a deal]. I love [the UFC] to death but they make you work for every single thing. It’s not quite where you want it to be a lot of times. We’re going to get something done though.”
As far as potential fights for his comeback, Masvidal said he’s open to competing at middleweight or welterweight and the UFC giving him another “four months, five months” to prepare would be ideal since he hasn’t competed in MMA since 2023.
But Masvidal admits there’s one fighter on the UFC roster who could get him back in the octagon immediately, whether he’s actually gone through a full training camp or not.
“I’ll be honest with you, if they give me the Leon [Edwards] fight, I’ll get to [170 pounds] tomorrow,” Masvidal said. “I would like that fight. He doesn’t have nothing scheduled. [After the three piece and a soda], now it’s the whole buffet I’m going to hit this motherf*cker with. I would love it.”
Of course, Masvidal is referencing a backstage altercation with Edwards at UFC London event where they were competing in separate fights as the main and co-main event.
As Edwards was conducting a post-fight interview, he started chirping with Masvidal who was walking nearby and the war of words soon turned physical. Masvidal cracked Edwards with a few of punches before security could intervene.
Masvidal continued chasing that fight until his eventual retirement from the sport but he believes the matchup makes more sense now than ever, especially as Edwards seeks to get back on track following three losses in a row.
“He had said he wouldn’t fight me because I had like three or four losses in a row,” Masvidal said. “I think he’s got like four losses in a row and by KO. That’s low hanging fruit for the UFC. Give me what I’m asking for and we’re good to go.”
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