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The UFC welterweight title picture is an absolute mess and it’s starting to turn good friends against one another.
The original plan was to have current UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman defend his title for the first time since winning it off Tyron Woodley against Colby Covington at UFC 224 this November in New York. That title fight scenario seemed legitimate considering Covington has won his last seven fights, including dominate wins over Robbie Lawler, Rafael dos Anjos, and Demian Maia.
But after news surfaced earlier this week that the proposed title fight between Usman and Covington hit a snag in booking, the door was left open for another welterweight contender to step in and steal the show. That ended up being Covington’s teammate and streaking welterweight veteran, Jorge Masvidal, who was linked to his own UFC 244 title shot.
Masvidal, who is coming off a record-setting five second knockout finish over Ben Askren back at UFC 239, was expected to challenge Nate Diaz later this year before getting a shot at welterweight gold.
As a result of Masvidal’s willingness to step up and fight Usman at UFC 244 Covington has decided to verbally attack his American Top Team (ATT) friend and give “Gamebred” a reason to cut all ties with the loose-lipped “Chaos.”
.@GamebredFighter I know you’re dumb and desperate, but you spelled JOURNEYMAN TITLE wrong junior. Reading is fundamental and #supernecessary. Just like WINNING is #supernecessary to get title fights. You should try both sometime, you trash bag. https://t.co/OTjrSKNbOI
— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) September 6, 2019
“Jorge Masvidal, I know you’re dumb and desperate, but you spelled JOURNEYMAN TITLE wrong junior,” Covington wrote via Twitter. “Reading is fundamental and ‘super necessary’.
“Just like WINNING is ‘super necessary’ to get title fights. You should try both sometime, you trash bag.”
While this seems like a complete slap in the face considering Covington and Masvidal have been teammates and friends for years, it was bound to happen. The ATT standouts are two of the best welterweight fighters in the world today and were likely to collide atop the UFC’s 170-pound division, especially as both men continue to win. Covington even voiced his willingness to fight “Gamebred” last month if he couldn’t get his hands on Usman.
For now, the UFC welterweight title picture remains a mystery. But it’s safe to say that Covington will do, and certainly say, just about anything to become the next guy in line.