Jorge Masvidal has felony charges dropped after guilty plea in Colby Covington assault case

Jorge Masvidal had felony charges dropped on Monday after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge in a plea deal with Florida prosecutors.  

The former UFC fighter was arrested by the Miami-Dade county police in March 2022 after having an altercation with Colby Covington outside a Miami restaurant.  A video of Masvidal being taken into custody emerged.  

Exclusive @GamebredFighter headed to jail on an aggravated battery charge after his alleged attack on @ColbyCovMMA Exclusive video and story on @WPLGLocal10 pic.twitter.com/HGJhTz25Kj

— Rosh Lowe (@roshloweWPLG) March 24, 2022

Masvidal faced two charges: one count of aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm and one count of criminal mischief.  An eyewitness gave his account of what occurred at the time.  

“One guy (Masvidal) clocked him (Covington) about three or four times in the face,” Adam Weiss, who witnessed the incident, told WPLG Local 10 News. “What stood out right away was how he didn’t even go down.”

Masvidal and Covington used to be teammates, training partners and best friends, but those days are long gone. The two fought in the UFC 272 main event on March 5, 2022, just weeks before the incident.   Covington defeated Masvidal by unanimous decision, but things between the two clearly weren’t settled.  Masvidal maintained his innocence until Monday.  

He appeared in Miami-Dade court alongside his attorney, Saam Zanganeh and was sentenced to time served.  The felony charges of battery and criminal mischief were dropped.  

Masvidal, 38, retired from fighting following his UFC 287 decision loss to Gilbert Burns in April, in his hometown of Miami.    

“Thanks you everybody for watching.  This is where I started my career and now it’s been a long 20 years and 50-something fights.  Sometimes your favorite basketball player ain’t got that 3-pointer anymore, your favorite quarterback loses that rifle, I don’t feel the same when I get in here no more.  It’s been 20 long years.   I love all of you.  The UFC came here (Miami) 20 years ago.  It inspired me to chase this dream for 20 years and 50 something fights later.  Hopefully I inspired somebody in here to go chase theirs no matter what it is, if it’s in the sports world, if it’s in the f**king entertainment world, if it’s in whatever world, if it’s a 9 to 5.  I love everybody.  I love this sport.  I’m a multi-millionaire.  I didn’t start from sh*t.  I didn’t have nothing when I started and I can say I’m set for life now.  20 long years,” he said before launching into a “Let’s go Brandon” chant.    

Masvidal now runs his own fight promotion.