Dana White: Colby Covington, Not Nate Diaz, Likely Next for Jorge Masvidal

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It appears the Ultimate Fighting Championship has shifted gears when it comes to its plans for Jorge Masvidal.

The Las Vegas-based promotion was reportedly looking to book Masvidal in a “BMF” title rematch against Nate Diaz at some point in early 2021, but those plans have changed following Colby Covington’s dismantling of Tyron Woodley at UFC Fight Night 178. Now, a showdown between former American Top Team stablemates appears to be on the horizon.

“It’s very possible (Masvidal vs. Covington) is next,” UFC president Dana White said at the UFC 253 post-fight press conference on Saturday. “… I don’t know if we’ve even talked to Nate yet. But yeah, after the Colby fight (vs. TWoodley), how do you not make that fight? That’s the fight that makes sense.

“The Nate Diaz rematch is going to be there no matter what happens.”

Masvidal defeated Diaz via doctor stoppage after three rounds in the UFC 244 headliner at Madison Square Garden last November. The ending was somewhat anticlimactic, leaving the door open for a rematch down the road. While Diaz hasn’t competed since then, Masvidal returned at UFC 251, where he dropped a five-round verdict against Kamaru Usman in a welterweight title bout on July 11.

Covington called out Masvidal following his victory over Woodley in Las Vegas last weekend, which seems to have changed the UFC’s matchmaking focus.

“Where’s Jorge Masvidal at?” Covington said at the UFC Fight Night 178 post-fight press conference. “He needs to come see me for all the talking he’s done. Come see if can walk the walk. I talk the talk and I walk the walk. I want to see Jorge Masvidal in that Octagon. … I want the best friends turned enemy fight with ‘Street Judas’ Jorge Masvidal.”