Colby Covington isn’t letting the past rest. Four years after their explosive UFC 272 showdown, Covington has filed a civil lawsuit against Jorge Masvidal, seeking damages exceeding $50,000 for an attack outside a Miami Beach restaurant in 2022.
The lawsuit, filed in Miami-Dade County on March 23, lays out a dramatic series of events that started in the Octagon and spilled onto the streets. Covington’s attorneys detail how, after their UFC 272 bout—where Covington dominated Masvidal by unanimous decision—the one-time “BMF” champion made a chilling promise.
In a post-fight interview, Masvidal said, “If I see him out in the streets, I’m going to give him everything I got to break his f*cking jaw.”
Just months later, on March 21, 2022, Covington exited Papi Steak in Miami Beach and alleges Masvidal “ambushed” him, striking him “with a closed fist” without warning.
The lawsuit describes the attack as “sudden, intentional, and calculated,” leaving the former UFC interim welterweight champion defenseless.
Criminal charges followed, with Masvidal pleading guilty to misdemeanor battery. He was sentenced to time served and ordered to cover court fees but avoided additional jail time. Afterward, Masvidal fired off on social media: “Fck you, Colby. It’s going to be a fcking movie now. All these orders, all these restraining orders been lifted off. It’s going to be a f*cking movie.”
Covington’s legal team paints a different picture. They call the attack “unprovoked” and “deliberate, malicious, and carried out with the intent to cause harm.” Covington claims the assault left him with lasting injuries, including “bodily injury, pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, physical impairment, mental anguish, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, [and] expenses of hospitalization, medical and nursing care.” His attorneys insist that many of these injuries are permanent or ongoing, and Covington will continue to endure their effects.
The feud between Covington and Masvidal dates back to their days as teammates at American Top Team-Florida, where a falling-out led to Covington leaving the gym. Their UFC 272 clash in Las Vegas cemented the personal and professional rivalry, with tensions spilling over into real life weeks later.
Now, even years removed from the incident, Covington is pursuing justice in a civil court, requesting a jury trial to rule on the matter. The lawsuit seeks over $100,000 in damages and emphasizes the long-term impact the attack has had on Covington’s life and career.
As of now, both fighters are also eyeing potential UFC comebacks. Covington hasn’t competed since a TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley in December 2024, while Masvidal retired after his defeat to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287. Neither has publicly commented on the new legal battle, but one thing is clear: the Covington-Masvidal saga is far from over.
