Both Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington, whose long-anticipated welterweight bout is headlining UFC 272, failed to capture the welterweight title from Kamaru Usman in their last fight. Jon Anik, veteran MMA reporter, says whoever loses this fight won’t be in title contention ever again.
Anik told MMA Fighting that the stakes for this fight go beyond the obvious personal beef between the two former teammates and “best friends”. Both Covington and Masvidal have twice attempted to dethrone the welterweight – and pound-for-pound – king, and both have failed each time.
Jon Anik on UFC 272: “whoever loses this fight is probably never gonna fight for the belt again”
Their records against Usman, too, are identical, with one decision loss and one stoppage loss apiece. Whoever wins this fight will likely get a third bite of the welterweight apple, but that means the loser probably doesn’t see a chance at welterweight gold again. “It’s hugely high stakes in terms of the welterweight division. We’re gonna get a lot of clarity at 170 pounds.
I think it’s very interesting stylistically because a lot of people feel like Covington is gonna be a 5-to-1 favorite and has all the advantages in terms of where this fight is gonna take place. I like the fact that it’s gonna be in a 30-foot octagon at the T-Mobile Arena, and some people think I make too much of that, but I do feel like the little [cage] favors the grappler, so I think for Masvidal, it’s better to have this fight in a 30 footer.
But yeah, man, it’s fascinating. There’s a lot of different layers to it, and if Covington is going to get a third crack at Usman – who presumably is going to fight Leon Edwards next — this is a fight he absolutely has to win, and I think the same could be said for Masvidal. I think whoever loses this fight is probably never gonna fight for the belt again.”
Jon Anik, a longtime commentator for the UFC as well as a lifelong sports fan, is thrilled at the prospect of such a high-level grudge match in the cage. The story behind this fight – friends turned into enemies – is the stuff of films, rather than real life, where fighters often get along fine outside of the Octagon.
This is resolutely not the case for Masvidal and Covington. “I get anxious when I’m asked about this fight, and in the best of ways as a sports fan thinking about these guys making the walk.
When there’s heat on a matchup — and there most definitely is here — it elevates everything for the fighters, the fans, the broadcasters.
If you asked me if I would rather a fight be [with] the ultimate sportsmanship, hugging before the third round, or do I want them hating each other, I would certainly lead towards them hating each other.
I’ve sat behind Covington and Masvidal on an airplane when they were buddy-buddy sitting next to each other. They weren’t just friends. They were boys, man. Obviously, that’s a very unique backdrop to this fight.”
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