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Jorge Masvidal Recalls Inviting Covington To Brawl At A Sushi Restaurant

A South Florida sushi restaurant nearly turned into a makeshift Octagon for UFC 272 headliners Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington. Masvidal and Covington are slated to face off in a welterweight grudge match at UFC 272. The two former friends and teammates have been on each other’s nerves for years following their fallout. Masvidal has…

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A South Florida sushi restaurant nearly turned into a makeshift Octagon for UFC 272 headliners Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington.

Masvidal and Covington are slated to face off in a welterweight grudge match at UFC 272. The two former friends and teammates have been on each other’s nerves for years following their fallout.

Masvidal has proven to not be someone who will back down from a fight, even if it means confronting someone in a public setting. This element of his game goes back to his days fighting on the streets of Miami and also when he confronted Leon Edwards backstage in London.

The tension between Masvidal and Covington hit a boiling point following Covington’s win over Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 225. Masvidal has claimed that Covington allegedly failed to pay one of his coaches, which caused tensions to escalate.

Masvidal and Covington nearly brawled on numerous occasions during their time at American Top Team, according to both fighters. But things nearly took a sharp turn after Masvidal tried to lure Covington to a local sushi spot.

During a recent interview with ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, Masvidal detailed his nearly successful plot to fight Covington at a local restaurant.

“I come into a gym, random practice, and I see him there. And he kinda tries to ignore me,” Masvidal claimed. “And I was like, ‘Hey, bro, after practice, we’ll talk.’ He’s like, “Yeah, yeah, for sure, bro. Cool, cool. We’ll talk.’ And it’s pretty amicable. It’s not that bad.

Jorge Masvidal — © Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

“He’s like, ‘What do you want to talk about?’ I’m like, ‘I want to talk about you being a bitch and bringing up my name in interviews and Dan [Lambert] said not to.’ I still haven’t gone public with him. I’m just trying to address him man to man. Like, ‘Let’s not go that route, bro. And if you are, let’s just put the gloves on and beat the shit out of each other and get it out the system, you know? It’s pretty cool. I tell him all this; it’s pretty cool. As soon as I turn my back and a couple people come with him, the show starts. I’ll [MUTED] kill you, bro! Don’t ever talk to me like that!’”

After Covington allegedly switched into character, Masvidal details how things escalated in the middle of the gym.

“I turn around, I come to confront him, it’s too late. The whole gym’s involved because he made such a show. So I tell him, ‘There’s this sushi place we always used to go to right here.’ And I tell him, ‘I’m gonna go to the sushi place, bro. Dinner’s on me. Let’s go. I’ll be waiting for you.

“So I get in my car, go to the place, he’s not showing up. I get on Instagram, ‘Hey, bro, if you wanna collect your dinner, I’m over here,’ blah, blah, blah. Never showed up. So I’ve always known, deep down inside, he’s a coward. I just can’t wait for March 5 to expose it.”

Covington has yet to formally reply to Masvidal’s claims.

ATT owner Dan Lambert has recently claimed that the fractured relationship between Masvidal and Covington was unfixable. This led to Covington parting ways with the team and joining nearby MMA Masters to train going forward.

What is your prediction for Jorge Masvidal vs. Colby Covington?

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EXCLUSIVE | Jamie Mullarkey Set For ‘Breakthrough’ Fight At UFC 272

Australia’s Jamie Mullarkey returns to the Octagon this weekend when he takes on a surging Jalin Turner in a pivotal lightweight matchup at UFC 272, which will take place inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The 27-year-old Mullarkey is riding a wave of success after scoring back-to-back stoppage victories over Khama Worthy and Devonte […]

The 27-year-old Mullarkey is riding a wave of success after scoring back-to-back stoppage victories over Khama Worthy and Devonte Smith at UFC 260 and UFC Vegas 38, respectively. A win for either Mullarkey or Turner will likely set them up for a future shot at a ranked opponent.

“I think that it’s a bit of a breakthrough fight for both of us. So that’s just going to make for a better fight. I know we’re both going to want it, and we are both going to go in and leave it all in there, ” Mullarkey said, talking to LowkickMMA.

Mullarkey’s UFC tenure started with a Fight of the Night bout on home soil at UFC 243, where he fought New Zealand’s Brad Riddell on three weeks’ notice. While Mullarkey didn’t get the nod from the judges, his performance drew praise from both media and fans. Even after a loss to Farès Ziam in his next outing, there was never any doubt that Mullarkey would find his groove — which he quickly did, in devastating fashion against Worth and Smith.

After his subsequent win over Smith — which earned him a Performance of the Night bonus — the UFC brass rewarded Mullarkey with a new five-fight contract, but don’t expect the Australian to put his feet up and pat himself on the back for a job well done. After almost a decade competing in the pro ranks, Mullarkey knows what it takes to survive in arguably the most competitive sport in the world.

“It doesn’t give me any more comfort because I know what this sport is; its blood sport. The second you get a win in, everyone is up behind you like he is doing so great. The second you get a loss, it’s the exact opposite, and everyone thinks he’s done and stuff like that.

“In saying that getting into the UFC is hard, staying in the UFC is harder. So I’m not in any way getting comfort out of that new contract. I’ve still got a lot to prove.”

Mullarkey, who earned his stripes on the competitive Australian regional scene, has observed firsthand what it takes to succeed in the UFC through his training sessions at Freestyle MMA, home to UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.

“You see how hungry he is. He’s at the top; he’s like the wolf at the top of the mountain. And there’s all these other wolves climbing up it that are hungrier, but he stays so motivated he stays so driven. So I definitely take that, and I’m applying that to my own career as well.”

Mullarkey divides his time between Freestyle MMA and Central Coast MMA, where he trains under the guidance of UFC veteran Ross Pearson. A bout of Covid-19 hindered progress at the start of this camp, but once he returned to full health, it was all go for the New South Wales’ athlete.

“As far as everything else with my camp, it’s been unreal. I’ve been getting pushed every single day, like literally every single day. I’ve been getting worked, so I am going to be more than ready.”

Mullarkey is aware of the unique challenges the 6 ft 3 Turner brings to the Octagon but knows that it will be up to him to fight his own fight when the cage doors shut.

“[I] don’t get too caught up in watching my opponent because obviously, I want to fight my fight. But, we have watched some tape, we watched what he likes to do, getting the reads, getting the little tells.

“So we’ve got our tricks and our plans that we’re going to take into the fight. But yeah, I don’t get too caught up in it. I think that if you focus too much on what your opponents doing, you’re not really fighting your fight, are you?”

Mullarkey is part of the next wave of fighters to emerge from the Australasian scene, where MMA continues to grow exponentially, and he is excited about what the sport’s future looks like in the region.

“It’s insane seeing the level up even the amateurs on these fight nights that I’m going to. You can see the evolution in the sport and how fast it’s grown down here in Australia and New Zealand, we’re really just getting started,” he explains.

” I think we are just going to be shooting more and more of these high-level fighters into the big shows. so it’s exciting times.”

If Mullarkey’s past performances are anything to go by, fans should not be surprised if his bout against Turner ends up being one of the highlights of UFC 272. He already has two performance bonuses, and after this weekend, it could be three.

How excited are you for the return of Jamie Mullarkey?

UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal Odds, Predictions and Pre-Weigh-In Hype

Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal will headline UFC 272 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday. The bad blood between Covington and Masvidal has been covered extensively…

White Says Islam Makhachev Will Face Dariush After Turning Down RDA

UFC President Dana White says lightweight contender Islam Makhachev will have to face Beneil Dariush before a title shot. Makhachev most recently defeated Bobby Green in the main event of UFC Vegas 49 last weekend. Shortly after the fight, it was revealed that Rafael Fiziev had to pull out of his UFC 272 matchup with…

Continue Reading White Says Islam Makhachev Will Face Dariush After Turning Down RDA at MMA News.

UFC President Dana White says lightweight contender Islam Makhachev will have to face Beneil Dariush before a title shot.

Makhachev most recently defeated Bobby Green in the main event of UFC Vegas 49 last weekend. Shortly after the fight, it was revealed that Rafael Fiziev had to pull out of his UFC 272 matchup with Rafael dos Anjos after testing positive for COVID-19.

The UFC scrambled to find a short-notice replacement to face Dos Anjos, with Makhachev raising his hand immediately on social media. However, he allegedly turned down the fight and the promotion ended up booking dos Anjos vs. Renato Moicano in the UFC 272 co-headliner.

Makhachev was originally supposed to face Dariush in the UFC Vegas 49 main event before Dariush suffered an injury in camp. During a recent interview with Barstool Sports, White appeared to shut down Makhachev getting a title shot next.

“Pretty close. I thought we had it done,” White said about Makhachev vs. Dos Anjos. “When I went to bed one of the nights, I thought it was done. Woke up the next morning and found out they turned it down. Islam [turned it down]. No clue [why].

Islam Makhachev, Credit: USA TODAY Sports

“He’s obviously doing very well. I love the Dariush fight. Since he turned down this fight, we’re going to remake the Dariush fight. We’ll get that fight going. Dying to see that fight. He gets through Dariush, very interesting.” (h/t MMA Fighting)

After dos Anjos found out that Makhachev turned down a short-notice fight, he accused Makhachev of “folding” when offered a co-main event opportunity.

White’s admission could potentially open the door to former UFC champion Conor McGregor skipping the line and getting a title shot upon his return later this year.

White previously said in a separate interview with TMZ that Dariush remains a factor in the lightweight division. After Makhachev called for the next title shot, it appears that the UFC plans to go in a different direction for his next Octagon appearance.

What is your reaction to Dana White’s plan for Islam Makhachev?

Continue Reading White Says Islam Makhachev Will Face Dariush After Turning Down RDA at MMA News.

Joe Rogan Will Return To Fight Commentary At UFC 272

UFC President Dana White has confirmed that Joe Rogan will return to commentate on the upcoming pay-per-view at UFC 272. Rogan was absent from the UFC 271 commentary team for reasons that are still unclear. After it was originally reported by some outlets as a scheduling conflict, White later shut down those rumors and said…

Continue Reading Joe Rogan Will Return To Fight Commentary At UFC 272 at MMA News.

UFC President Dana White has confirmed that Joe Rogan will return to commentate on the upcoming pay-per-view at UFC 272.

Rogan was absent from the UFC 271 commentary team for reasons that are still unclear. After it was originally reported by some outlets as a scheduling conflict, White later shut down those rumors and said that Rogan chose not to work.

White announced Rogan’s return to the desk during a recent sitdown with Barstool Sports.

“Yeah, he’ll be here,” White said. “[Rogan is] on this week, [Daniel] Cormier’s off.” (h/t MMA Fighting)

Rogan will make his return to the broadcast alongside play-by-play broadcaster Jon Anik and former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping.

Rogan has been under fire over the past few months for allegedly spreading misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines and also after a racial-slur-filled compilation went viral. In the compilation of a series of past podcast episodes, Rogan can be heard using the ‘n-word’ without context.

Despite being absent from UFC 271, Rogan’s presence was still felt by the fans. Chants of “Free Joe Rogan” were prevalent throughout the fight card.

Cormier will miss this weekend’s pay-per-view due to the recent death of his mother, as he announced earlier this week.

UFC 272 will be headlined by a welterweight grudge match between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington, two fighters who Rogan has praised many times in the past.

What is your reaction to Joe Rogan returning for UFC 272?

Continue Reading Joe Rogan Will Return To Fight Commentary At UFC 272 at MMA News.

Masvidal Recounts The Time Covington Snitched On Him To Dana White

The grudge between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington gets deeper as Masvidal recalls the night his opponent allegedly snitched on him at a UFC event. Ahead of UFC 272, Masvidal and Covington continue to bring up old memories to fuel their rivalry. Masvidal denies their former friendship and has revealed alleged details of their past…

Continue Reading Masvidal Recounts The Time Covington Snitched On Him To Dana White at MMA News.

The grudge between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington gets deeper as Masvidal recalls the night his opponent allegedly snitched on him at a UFC event.

Ahead of UFC 272, Masvidal and Covington continue to bring up old memories to fuel their rivalry. Masvidal denies their former friendship and has revealed alleged details of their past that place Covington under a negative spotlight.

The BMF champion highly anticipates putting an end to Covington’s confidence this Saturday, March 5. Every week, he reminds UFC fans that he will destroy Covington, and there has been a huge lead-up as to why.

Recently, in an interview with ESPN, Masvidal went into detail about a confrontation that took place on the night of UFC 241.

“I was at (UFC 241), and guess who I see there? Colby. And I haven’t seen him in months because he’s been traveling, I’ve been at the gym, I’ve been in and out of the gym, so we weren’t really clicking. So I finally see him and he just dropped (an) interview. And I just tapped him on the shoulder and he’s immediately nervous. Actually, this is on video. They have this on video. And I asked him, ‘Oh, what’s all that [MUTED] you’ve been talking? But we’re both men, man. You got my phone number. Why don’t we go outside and just talk like men? And he freaked out. He was like, “No, bro, you’re trying to fight, bro?! You’re so unprofessional, bro! We’re grown-ass men! What are you doing?! What’s wrong with you?!’”

Masvidal/Covington Face-Off Takes A Sudden Turn

That night, Masvidal says his intentions were to speak to Covington about certain posts on social media that pertained to him. Before long, the UFC boss got involved.

“I’m like, ‘Let’s go outside and just talk, leave everybody here. Just go outside and talk.’ He’s like, ‘No, we’ll talk another day,’ freakin’ out like his usual self. I go back to my seat. I see him waving down Dana White. And I go, “Nah, there’s no way.’

“You can ask Dana White this…waves down Dana White and tells Dana White that I’m trying to fight him right there on sight. But this guy’s talking all this [MUTED] on the internet, that he’s a thug. Dana White’ll come out and tell you. Like, ‘Man, Masvidal was ready to go. This guy wanted no part of it,’” Masvidal continued.

“Dana White calls me over, he’s like, ‘Man, you trying to hand out three-pieces and a soda, Masvidal?! <Dana White laugh> No, but seriously, don’t [MUTED] fight here at the event.’ I’m like, ‘Bro, all I wanted to do was talk to the guy outside, bro. Now, he’s made it a problem by [MUTED] going to you…(he’s) snitching on me, you know?”

It goes without saying, but Masvidal is not amused by fighters disrespecting him. For instance, Nate Diaz is also on his list of future beatdowns for talking trash about him on the internet.

Whether snitching is worse than trash talk or not, Masvidal was not pleased by Covington’s actions.

UFC 272 is just a few days away, and the potential for this to be the most hate-fueled match of the year keeps growing.

Masvidal appears to have a plethora of reasons for his dislike toward Covington and will use every bit of it to motivate his punches in the cage.

What are your thoughts on Colby Covington allegedly snitching on Jorge Masvidal to Dana White?

Continue Reading Masvidal Recounts The Time Covington Snitched On Him To Dana White at MMA News.