Triple Take: Whom should Jorge Masvidal face next?

A title was on the line in the UFC 244 main event this past Saturday – but not a traditional one. Jorge Masvidal picked up a win over Nate Diaz with a doctor’s stoppage TKO after three rounds to lay claim to “BMF” status. So now that Masvidal has three straight knockout wins over top-tier competition, what should be next up on his resume? MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun, Nolan King and Mike Bohn sound off in the latest edition of Triple Take.

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Farah Hannoun: Winner of Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington

Jorge Masvidal is in the running for “Fighter of the Year,” after a career resurgence and three straight stoppage wins. He beat Nate Diaz this past Saturday at UFC 244 to win the “BMF” title.

And while it’s clear Masvidal is looking for big money fights, something wouldn’t feel right if he capped off his career without becoming a UFC champion, or at least competing for the welterweight title. There isn’t a better positioned fighter in the division for title contention, and the time is now. Masvidal has said on numerous occasions that he wants to become a champ, and just mentioned in the post-fight press conference that he wants all the belts he can get.

While his fight against Diaz was controversially stopped by the doctor, Masvidal was far ahead on the scorecards, and en route to a master class performance. A rematch with Diaz is something we’d all love to see at some point, but surely Diaz will need some time off to heal from the scars Masvidal gave him.

Enter Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington, the 170-pound title fight that is set to take place at UFC 245 on Dec. 14. Timing-wise, the winner might fit perfectly for Masvidal’s next bout.

There’s already a storm brewing with his American Top Team teammate and former friend Covington, who recently turned on him, speaking badly about him in public. The two have gone back and forth and have to be separated, as well as train at different times in the gym. The build-up to that fight would definitely be big if Covington emerges victorious.

Masvidal has also gone back and forth with champion Usman before, and while it may not be as big of a fight as one against Covington, the point is, Masvidal deserves a title shot. Usman and Covington may not hold the star power or generate the money that Masvidal is looking for, but in his current form and with the momentum he’s riding, there’s no better time for him to compete for the title. He’s arguably the best version that he’s ever been in his fighting career, and his body of work in 2019 has certainly earned him the right to compete for gold.