MMA Preview – Colby Covington vs Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272
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COLBY COVINGTON VS JORGE MASVIDAL FACTS
When is UFC 272? Sunday 6th March, 2022 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 272? T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 272? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 272
What channel is UFC 272 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC 272? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
COLBY COVINGTON VS JORGE MASVIDAL LOWDOWN
Colby Covington (16-3) has come to terms of simply losing to the better man in his title fights with Kamaru Usman. They matched up so similarly and he gave him his toughest fights, but he suffered a fifth-round stoppage in their first clash in 2019 and then a unanimous decision in November last year after that dominant TKO victory over Tyron Woodley in 2020.
Jorge Masvidal (35-15) is also coming off two humbling’s handed out by Usman. He became a superstar after knocking out Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz in 2019, but has crashed back down to earth. He predictably got wrestled for five rounds after taking the fight on short notice in their first meeting and then got a taste of his own medicine in the rematch last year getting shot with one of the cleanest straight right hands you will see.
COLBY COVINGTON VS JORGE MASVIDAL PREDICTION
For Masvidal, this will be either light work or a gruelling and punishing evening. He took Usman’s striking too lightly in his last fight, but he knows Covington does not possess that knockout power, so he will be aggressive whenever there is space. If he cannot create space, Covington will do to him what Usman did their first fight.
Covington has very similar grappling statistics to Usman which is relevant as they have shared opponents. Usman took Masvidal down seven times in 18 attempts over the two fights and if Covington has similar success, he will drain the gas tank blunting his weapons.
That said, Masvidal has hours of sparring time with Covington and spending seven rounds with Usman will only help. Covington also likes to spend time on the feet to set up take downs and the longer he does against Masvidal, the more likely he will get caught with violent combinations and body kicks.
So, there is value on a Masvidal knockout, but there is even more value on a late Covington stoppage as he will be relentless if the fight goes into the championship rounds hunting the back in between ground-and-pound. We back Masvidal to survive especially as this is a feud between old friends with a lot of pride at stake, but it will be a tough night if it goes past the third.
Prediction: Covington via Decision - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
Value Bet: Masvidal via KO/TKO
