Final Up to date on 18 Feb 2022 6:21 pm (UK Time)
On March fifth the long-brewing grudge fit between former very best pals became foes Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington is ready to be in the end fought. And whilst this bout’s anticipation and recognition stem from who will be capable of protected bragging rights there’s far more at stake for the 2 former teammates long term identify hopes therefore why I imagine Covington V Masvidal is greater than a grudge fit.
With Colby Covington coming off a 2nd identify loss towards Welterweight champ Kamaru Usman the next move for the welterweight contender was once up somewhat up within the air taking into consideration the present state of the department the similar might be stated for Jorge Masvidal who in comparison to Colby was once coming off again to again losses to Usman with the latest being a KO loss therefore why this bout being introduced couldn’t have come at a greater time and is so necessary for each males for a lot of causes together with age, endured relevancy and a brand new superstar within the department.
It’s been no secret that superstar energy has received warring parties favour from the UFC relating to getting nearer to the identify and this has arguably been the case for the welterweight department up to now 12 months. Each Jorge and Colby’s obtainment in their contemporary identify pictures were referred to as into query by way of some and personally rightfully so. Jorge sooner than his 2nd identify shot was once coming off his first one towards Usman which whilst uneventful Usman remained in entire keep an eye on of and Colby hadn’t fought since 2020. A case might be made each warring parties earned their contemporary identify pictures most commonly because of their popularity and vibrant personalities which whilst neatly bought via previous performances shouldn’t essentially be the case when warring parties are on lengthy win streaks corresponding to Leon Edwards for instance.
However whilst Jorge and Colby are arguably the largest stars of the welterweight department the issue they each lately face isn’t just that they’re each aging but additionally that the department might be at the cusp of shifting on from them as the principle enchantment outdoor Usman with the arriving of Khamzat Chimaev. Khamzat is the most up to date prospect lately within the UFC and whilst reasonably uncooked he has garnered nice reward from his performances with the promotion. He’s precisely what Dana White and the UFC would were short of to seem for the welterweight department. A recent new persona appreciated by way of maximum and apparently feared by way of the ones upper ranked than him who don’t acquire a lot from a battle with him. After each their losses to Usman this can be a lovely dangerous quandary for the Gamebred and Chaos to be in taking into consideration the identify as most fun and possible danger to the Welterweight king is being unwillingly pulled clear of the 2 slowly lessening their relevancy.
It’s because of this why I imagine why Khamzat’s development personally very much impacts the ‘inventory’ of Covington and Masvidal as he’s the ‘long term’ whilst they’re the previous. Therefore why a win at UFC 272 is of the maximum significance for the 2.
In conjunction with the semblance of Khamzat time could also be a large issue at stake on this battle. Each warring parties process has been patchy, to mention the least, lately with their maximum process lately coming in 2019 when Masvidal fought three times with 3 finishes and Colby fought two times as soon as for the identify and whilst of their defence the welterweight is a department underneath scrutiny for its contenders now not preventing each and every for that primary spot as steadily as they will have to it’s nonetheless an enormous drawback for them taking into consideration their present frame of labor.
Each warring parties are 3-2 of their ultimate 5 fights and whilst their wins had been both emphatic or dominant they haven’t specifically elderly the most efficient in all honesty. Masvidal whilst getting 3 finishes in the ones 3 wins from his ultimate 5 the team of workers he fought encompass a fighter in Until who has moved up Middleweight and is suffering to seek out his toes, Nate Diaz who’s 4-6 in his ultimate 10 and is pending retirement and Ben Askren who had a horrible UFC run and was once just lately KO’d by way of Youtuber Jake Paul. Within the situation, Jorge loses to Colby he realistically won’t ever get some other shot on the identify once more with the fighter turning 38 this 12 months.
And whilst Colby who turns 34 this month will very most likely have extra years left within the tank than his former teammate he’s in the similar quandary as Jorge together with his earlier wins additionally arguably aging poorly (Woodley, Maia, and Lawler) mix this with a possible loss at UFC 272 his relevancy as a contender and as a draw drops which kills any hope for some other identify shot or a possible big-money battle with the likes of claiming Dustin Poirier for instance who Chaos has gotten into it with just lately.
All in all, with all that’s at stake how can this major match now not ship UFC 272 is because of be one for the ages.
