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UFC's Biggest Rivalry Reignites Between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington, Masvidal Makes Serious Accusations 'It's catching up'

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Michael Aldon | Last updated Mar 31, 2025 7:31 PM ET

The longstanding rivalry between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington is one of the most personal and heated feuds in the UFC. Once close friends and training partners at American Top Team, their close relationship fell apart due to a mix of professional jealousy and personal betrayals. Masvidal has accused Covington of being disloyal and disrespectful, while Covington has mocked Masvidal for his losses and financial struggles. While they met in the Octagon for a sanctioned bout at UFC 272, which Covington won, the hatchet was far from buried.

Their animosity escalated to a real-life altercation outside a Miami restaurant in 2022, which led to Masvidal’s arrest and further cemented their bad blood.

Jorge Masvidal now seeks to come out of retirement from MMA, and named Covington as one of his potential opponents upon his return to the UFC. Masvidal, a former UFC BMF titleholder and one of the most outspoken figures in the sport, didn’t mince words when discussing Covington's recent loss to Joaquin Buckley during a recent interview with Ariel Helwani. The former backyard brawler went so far as to make a serious accusation towards Covington.

“He does a lot of drugs from what I hear, man.” Masvidal divulged during the interview. “It's catching up. He has a God-given ability, and he snorted it away."

While Masvidal’s allegations are serious, no official evidence has surfaced to support his claims. The UFC’s current drug-testing program tests for stimulants like cocaine under its competition guidelines, and Covington tested this year per the organization’s testing pool website. Unless new information emerges, the accusations will likely remain part of the ongoing war of words between the two heated rivals.

Both Covington and Masvidal have experienced significant downturns in their UFC careers in recent years. Covington has struggled since his interim title win in 2018, most recently losing to Joaquin Buckley via doctor's stoppage at UFC Tampa, marking his third defeat in his last four fights.

Similarly, Masvidal's career trajectory has been on a downward trend. After a peak in 2019, he has faced a series of losses, including a defeat to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287, after which he retired from the UFC.

Masvidal’s heated criticism adds another layer of tension to an already bitter feud between the two fighters. Despite their animosity and both of their careers’ downward trajectories, they still remain popular figures in the welterweight division. For now, a potential rematch between the two does little for the overall welterweight title picture and remains nothing but a possibility.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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