LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 05: Colby Covington looks on before his welterweight fight against Jorge Masvidal during UFC 272 at T-Mobile Arena on March 05, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington has accused his bitter rival Jorge Masvidal of inflicting serious brain damage
The biggest news surrounding combat sports last month was when Jorge Masvidal attacked his nemesis Colby Covington at a restaurant in Miami. The UFC welterweight was hooded and wore a face mask, as he attacked Covington from behind with his entourage.
Masvidal had since then been arrested, released on bail, and is facing some serious legal trouble. Masvidal faces two felony charges in relation to the event. One of aggravated battery, including the claim that ‘Gamebred’ struck Covington with a “deadly weapon,” referring to the fighter’s fists. The other relates to $15,000 in property damage, related to a $90,000 Rolex watch Covington was said to have been wearing at the time. Masvidal has pled “not guilty” to both counts and claimed, in a March hearing with NSAC over licensing, that he was engaged in “a mutual combatance with another athlete.”
The now updated aggravated battery charge says Masvidal committed aggravated battery on Covington by striking him against his will with a deadly weapon, [hands or fist] and/or did knowingly and intentionally cause great bodily harm, to wit: BRAIN INJURY …”
Leading up to UFC 273 UFC president Dana White had suggested that the welterweight bout between Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns will determine the next title contender at 170 lbs. However during UFC London, White had pledged that Leon Edwards is the next in line for the title, and the UFC head honcho has other plans for Chimaev should he win at UFC 273.
Although Burns lost to Chimaev at UFC 273, he has garnered some new fans, and came out victorious in many people’s opinion. The UFC veteran fought his heart out and posed a serious threat to the Chechen throughout the fight. Speaking about the rumored next fight for Chimaev he said,
“That’s a tough fight, but first thing is first – Colby has to accept the fight and I don’t think he will,” Burns told MMA Junkie. “I don’t know why, but I just have a feeling he won’t accept the fight. That’s the feeling that I have.
“I think it will be a very tough fight, a very, very close fight. But I just don’t think he’ll say yes. I just don’t think. Maybe Belal (Muhammad) is there and they make Belal vs. Khamzat. I said I’ll be ready for a rematch, so we’ll see. I want big fights, that’s what I’m looking for next. But I don’t think Colby will fight Khamzat.”
Colby has been accused of not fighting any top ranked welterweight, besides the two fight with champion Kamaru Usman.
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