Covington and Masvidal were good friends and trained together at American Top Team. At one point, Covington lived with Masvidal for around eight months. However, things turned sour quickly after Covington won the interim welterweight title against Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 225 in June 2018 with Masvidal in his corner. As with most relationships, friends became bitter enemies due to money.
Covington refused to pay Masvidal's long-time striking coach Paulino Hernandez his total amount for the fight, which he told MMA Junkie was $17,500. Instead, Covington paid only $5,000, according to Hernandez. After that, things started getting out of hand, with Covington making veiled comments about Masvidal and his kids. The feud caused tension in the gym to the point where both were kicked out, with Masvidal eventually being let back in.
The insults have gone back and forth with no end in sight. So will UFC 272 solve their problems?
"The headline Sunday morning is going to be Jorge Masvidal wins and sends Colby Covington to his funeral," Masvidal told DAZN News. "I'm going to knock him unconscious, and send him off on a stretcher."
Both guys are coming off losses to welterweight champion. Covington lost to Usman via unanimous decision at UFC 268 in December. Masvidal, the BMF champion, is coming off back-to-back losses to Usman. "Gamebred" lost via unanimous decision at UFC 251 in July 2020 and the subsequent rematch at UFC 261 in April via second-round knockout.
Here is everything you need to know about UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal.
Covington vs. Masvidal: UFC 272 date, start time
Date: Saturday, March 5
Main card: 10:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 a.m. GMT
Main event (approx): 12:15 a.m. ET / 5:15 a.m. GMT
The main card is set to get underway at 10:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 a.m. GMT with the main event walks to the Octagon scheduled for 12:15 a.m. ET / 5:15 a.m. BST. As with UFC fight cards, the length of the undercard fights can affect these initial timings.
What channel/stream is UFC 272?
U.S.: ESPN+ PPV
UK: BT Sport
UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal will be broadcast on ESPN+ PPV in the US, while BT Sport has broadcasting rights in the UK.
Where is UFC 272?
This fight takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Colby Covington record and bio
Nationality: American
Born: February 22, 1988
Height: 5'11"
Reach: 72"
Total Fights: 19
Record: 16-3
Jorge Masvidal record and bio
Nationality: American
Born: November 12, 1984
Height: 5'11"
Reach: 74"
Total Fights: 50
Record: 35-15
UFC 272 fight card
Main card
- Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal; Welterweight
- Rafael dos Anjos vs. Renato Moicano; 160-pound Catchweight
- Edson Barboza vs. Bryce Mitchell; Featherweight
- Kevin Holland vs. Alex Oliveira; Welterweight
- Sergey Spivak vs. Greg Hardy; Heavyweight
Preliminary card
- Jalin Turner vs. Jamie Mullarkey; Lightweight
- Marina Rodriguez vs. Yan Xiaonan; Women's Strawweight
- Nicolae Negumereanu vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu; Light Heavyweight
- Maryna Moroz vs. Mariya Agapova; Women's Flyweight
- Brian Kelleher vs. Umar Nurmagomedov; Featherweight
- Tim Elliott vs. Tagir Ulanbekov; Flyweight
- Devonte Smith vs. Ľudovít Klein; Lightweight
- Michał Oleksiejczuk vs. Dustin Jacoby; Light Heavyweight