Colby Covington on Maia vs. Masvidal: Losing questionable decisions is the story of Masvidal’s career

By Tom Taylor - May 18, 2017

Last weekend, on the main card of UFC 211, Jorge Masvidal gave up a close decision to Demian Maia in a clash of top-ranked welterweights. On Wednesday evening, Masvidal’s main training partner Colby Covington appeared on BJ Penn Radio to discuss the fight. He explained that he believes Masvidal should have received the nod, but that losing questionable decisions is nothing new for the veteran.

Colby Covington

“I thought my boy ‘Gamebred’ Jorge Masvidal was way more effective,” Covington said. “He did a lot more damage. He wobbled and hurt Demian Maia at the end of the first round. I thought he won the fight, you know, but he never gets the judges calls. That’s been his whole career, the story of his whole career. He’s dominated guys, beaten up guys in the fight aspect, but they’ve won on points or won by the judges’ score, like against Al Iaquinta. But it is what it is. It’s disappointing, you know. It’s his time to get his title shot, and I really wish that he was going to get that, but he’s still one fight away. He beats a guy like Stephen Thompson and he’s right back there. But it is what it is, you’ve gotta move on. The judges didn’t pick him that night, but I think Demian Maia knew who the better fighter was that night.”

Covington then explained that he plans on getting his team back on when he takes on Dong Hyun Kim in Singapore this June.

“[Masvidal] will be in my corner for the fight,” he said. “I want to put on a really good performance for him. Right now his spirits are a little low because that wasn’t how planned and envisioned things, but he made a couple little mistakes that I’m sure he’s regretting. This [fight with Kim] is a chance to put us right back up, cause we’re a team.”

“When one of us wins, we both win. When one of us loses, we both lose. So I’m going to get this team back on track.”

What do you think of Colby Covington’s take on Maia vs. Masvidal?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 5/18/2017.