COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – Jorge Masvidal is taking full credit for the coveted UFC 272 headlining spot.
Masvidal takes on former best friend-turned rival Colby Covington in the main event of UFC 272 on March 5, a rare non-title fight to headline a pay-per-view card.
The personal feud between Masvidal (35-15 MMA, 12-8 UFC) and Covington (16-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) is a big selling point, as well as the fact that both former title challengers are top-ranked contenders. But Masvidal, who drew big numbers for his “BMF” title fight against Nate Diaz at UFC 244 and both his title fights with Kamaru Usman, says he’s the only reason why he and Covington are getting this opportunity.
“Definitely about (my star power), or he’ll try to take credit for it,” Masvidal told MMA Junkie. “He hasn’t, I think, broke in all of his pay-per-views combined 500,000 (buys). I don’t have to say what I’ve sold; everybody knows. So it’s definitely solely because of my star power, nothing to do with his.”
Despite falling short to UFC welterweight champion Usman twice, Masvidal made it clear that he still has his eye on the prize and sees Covington as the perfect opponent to reposition him for another crack at gold.
“He’s got the No. 1 ranking, so it’s gotta do something, right?” Masvidal said. “Because those rankings, as much bullsh*t as I think they are, he does have the No. 1, so there’s no denying me. If I’m No. 1, there’s no denying me, and that’s it. What has to happen, has to happen, but I definitely want the path to the title.”