UFC 272: Covington smothers Masvidal for unanimous-decision victory

By Case Keefer (contact)

Published Saturday, March 5, 2022 | 7 p.m.

Updated Saturday, March 5, 2022 | 10:52 p.m.

Wrestling ruled the night at UFC 272.

One of the locally based mixed martial arts promotion’s most contentious rivalries ended Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena with Colby Covington using his wrestling background to control former teammate Jorge Masvidal over 25 minutes. The judges award Covington a unanimous-decision victory (50-45, 50-44, 49-46) over Masvidal after he overwhelmed his opponent with takedowns and clinches.

“My wrestling wasn’t good today,” a dejected Masvidal said in his post-fight interview in the octagon. “I was flat.”

The losers in the other two bouts atop the card were surely having similar thoughts, as Rafael dos Anjos and Bryce Mitchell used the same strategy as Covington to cruise to unanimous-decision wins.

The young featherweight Mitchell leveled up by beating his biggest name opponent yet in Barboza by scores of 30-25, 30-26 and 30-27. The Arkansas-native grappler repeatedly took the Brazilian veteran down and softened him up with elbows.

The former lightweight champion Dos Anjos bloodied Renato Moicano with repeated ground-and-pound en route to picking up 50-44, 49-45 and 49-44 scores in a 160-pound catchweight bout. Dos Anjos called out and requested a fight with Masvidal afterwards, predicting he would win the main event.

Not even close as Masvidal got taken down in every round except the second, which is the lone frame one judge awarded him. His only other bright spot came in the fourth round when he briefly staggered Covington with a pair of right hooks.

“I should have had more moments like that but I was off today,” Masvidal said. “I was flat-footed today.”

Covington and Masvidal didn’t as much as look at each other as they were introduced in the octagon before the fight. Security remained afterwards to separate them, as Covington taunted his old friend and continued to trash talk.

There was no handshake to end a feud that’s now lasted several years.

“I just took care of Miami’s street trash,” Covington said in his brief post-fight comments while draped in an American flag. “Now it’s time to take on Louisiana swamp trash. Where you at, Dustin Poirier?”

Poirier is another big name who’s sometimes struggled with wrestlers throughout his career, so it may seem improbable that he would want to jump in the octagon with Covington. The former All-American wrestler at Oregon State has lost a pair of bouts to welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, but is otherwise unbeaten over the last six years.

In some ways, the Masvidal win belongs among his best performances especially considering all the build-up. Covington called Masvidal “a journeyman” and swore he would cruise past him.

He lived up to his words.

A pair of early knockouts started the main card before the rash of three decisions concluded the card. Heavyweight Sergey Spivak handed former NFL defensive end Greg Hardy his third straight loss with a TKO victory at 2:16 of the first round.

Kevin Holland overcame a rough first round to swarm Alex Oliveira 38 seconds into the second round and snag a TKO win. It was the only fight on the main card where wrestling didn’t play a key role, though Holland dropped to welterweight for the bout after getting controlled in two straight losses against bigger, stronger middleweights.

No one looked stronger than Covington on Saturday, though, as he closed the book on a big-time rivalry with a wrestling exhibit for the ages.

 Read below for live updates from the main card and scroll to the bottom of the page for results from the preliminaries.

Main Event: Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal

Fifth Round Pressure was the difference again as Covington took Masvidal down and smothered him through the bell. The long-awaited grudge match wasn’t close, especially not in the fifth round. Covington wins 10-9 to beat Masvidal 50-45 on the Sun’s scorecard. Covington officially defeated Masvidal by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-44, 49-46).

Fourth Round The fourth round might be the one that’s remembered. Masvidal took a beating for the majority and even looked like he might be at risk of getting stopped with about two minutes to go and Covington raining combinations. But then he turned the tables. He hit Covington with a pair of right hooks that had the former interim champion retreating. Covington eventually recovered and came back forward to build on his striking advantage but most of the arena were out of their seats for the few moments where Masvidal got the best of him. It was too short-lived, though. Covington leads 40-36 going into the final round after another 10-9 round.

Third Round Masvidal’s progress in the second round went out the window in the third. Covington got him down early and stayed busy enough to not only beat up Masvidal but even keep the crowd entertained in a position where that’s usually not the case. Covington eventually got Masvidal’s back and tried yet another rear-naked choke but the veteran slipped out of it and even got to his feet to close the round, much like the first. Covington leads 30-27 after three rounds, taking every frame on the Sun’s scorecard.

Second Round Masvidal did a lot more in the second round, arguably even enough to have stolen the frame. He was starting to find a rhythm on the feet in the final half of the frame. Covington even lost balance and fell to the mat when they both threw kicks at the same time. But Masvidal then went down after him, and Covington briefly got on his back. The first half of the round was pretty even with both having heir moments on the feet before Covington pushed Masvidal along the cage and clinched. He may have been able to hold the position longer but was broken when referee Herb Dean intervened for a groin strike. Covington landed big strikes in the final 30 seconds that may have been the difference, though. It’s 20-18 Covington after another 10-9 round in his favor.

First Round Score one for Covington — in the exact manner as expected. After “Colby” and “Jorge” chants alternated at the opening, Covington shot in for his first takedown after a minute and eventually succeeded. Masvidal was outclassed on the ground as Covington attempted a rear-naked choke and applied pressure for more than three minutes. The former interim champion got a little overzealous attempting to get into full mount and Masvidal fought his way to his feet before the bell ended. Masvidal said something to Covington at the end of the round, but never landed any offense. 10-9 Covington in the first round.

Co-Main Event: Rafael dos Anjos vs. Renato Moicano

Fifth Round The doctor questionably allowed the fight to continue for another five minutes before the round, and then Moicano unquestionably got pummeled for another five minutes. And the final round might have actually been his best round ,as he did land a few punches and mostly stay on his feet. But ds Anjos stayed in control and landed more, despite a late flurry. Moicano’s face was in a state of disrepair as the bell sounded, and it’s worth wondering whether taking this much damage was worth it long-term for his career. Dos Anjos wins the fifth round 10-9 and takes the fight 50-43 on the Sun’s scorecard. Rafael dos Anjos officially beats Moicano via unanimous decision (50-44, 49-45, 49-44).

Fourth Round A doctor checked on Moicano to start the round but ultimately let him continue. It’s debatable whether that was a wise decision for Moicano’s longevity in the sport. He continued getting pummeled with no route to escaping dos Anjos’ constant pressure. Dos Anjos didn’t almost knock him out this time around, but he spent the entire round on top near the corner of the cage elbowing Moicano into oblivion. Make it a second straight 10-8 round in favor of dos Anjos, who now leads 40-34 heading into the final round.

Third Round It was more of the same for a third straight round, even though it looked like Dos Anjos would get the finish for a long stretch in the middle. About two minutes in, Dos Anjos dropped Moicano with a head kick and rushed in for ensuing ground-and-pound. The referee could have justifiably stopped the fight but allowed Moicano to continue. He eventually recovered but had to ride out the round with Dos Anjos smothering him on top. Dos Anjos is now up 30-26 after taking the third round. Two rounds remain in a scheduled five-round bout.

Second Round Moicano’s face is swelling up, an illustration of the damage dos Anjos has now inflicted for 10 straight minutes. Most of it has come on the ground, as dos Anjos scored a double-leg takedown about halfway through the round and began raining punches and elbows. But he was getting the best of the exchanges on the feet too. It’s another 10-9 round for dos Anjos, who now leads 20-18.

First Round Moicano came out firing, hitting dos Anjos with punches and then clinching up against the fence. He even briefly tried to climb aboard dos Anjos’ back but the former champion shrugged him off and pretty much took over from there. Dos Anjos eventually got a takedown, and though he wasn’t in a dominant position, scored with knees and elbows on Moicano, who spent most of the round on his side. It’s 10-9 dos Anjos through one round.

Bryce Mitchell vs. Edson Barboza

Third Round Mitchell shockingly wound up on his back first, when he lost his balance when Barboza countered a kick with a jab. Barboza let him up, but they only exchanged for about 30 seconds before Mitchell converted on a double-leg takedown. Barboza worked more off his back than in the first two rounds, even briefly holding a triangle choke that looked like it might have a chance, but Mitchell still controlled the majority of the action. He got into full mount towards the end of the round and keep blasting Barboza’s already-injured face. Mitchell wins the final round 10-9 on the Sun’s scorecard and the fight overall at 30-27. Mitchell officially beat Barboza by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-25).

Second Round Mitchell wasted little time in dragging Barboza back down to the canvas. He didn’t do much advancing before Barboza fought back to his feet, but he didn’t need to. Barboza was back up for less than 10 seconds before Mitchell wrestled again and got him in side control. Mitchell landed more offense the second time on the ground in the round, opening a cut around Barboza’s forehead. Barboza survived the round but doctors rushed in to check on him. 10-9 Mitchell, who leads 20-18 through two rounds.

First Round It was supposed to be Barboza’s striking versus Mitchell’s grappling, but the latter beat up the former on the feet with relative ease. Mitchell first seemed to hurt Barboza with a couple quick jabs, and then dropped him with a straight right. Barboza kept Mitchell in his full guard but took plenty of ground-and-pound before working his way back up. The round wasn’t remotely close, and Mitchell might have even done enough to consider a 10-8 score. I’ll show some caution, however, and give Mitchell a 10-9 nod to start.

Kevin Holland vs Alex Oliveira

Second Round Holland hurt Oliveira with strikes, and then did it again. Oliveira went to the ground, and Holland followed — wailing away. The referee steps in. Holland defeated Oliveira via TKO 38 seconds into the second round, overcoming a rough first round.

First Round Holland closed a 4-to-1 favorite, but no one would know that by the early action. Oliveira brought it to Holland, landing a combination of punches and appearing to hurt the younger, more celebrated Holland. Volume remained lopsided for the round as a whole but Holland calmed down eventually and even got the better of an exchange or two. But he was nowhere close to winning the round — not even before Oliveira took him down and took his back right before the bell. 10-9 Oliveira to start the welterweight bout.

Sergey Spivak vs. Greg Hardy

First Round Spivak wasted little time in taking Hardy down, though the former Dallas Cowboys defensive end twice worked his way back up. Didn’t matter. Spivak was relentless and drug Hardy down once again and got him into a vulnerable position below him. From there, Spivak rained hammerfists and forced the referee to step in. Spivak officially beat Hardy via TKO at 1:16 of the first round.

Pre-main card

Words give way to action tonight at T-Mobile Arena.

Resolution is imminent in the dispute between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal as the former teammates meet in the main event of UFC 272. The history of the locally based mixed martial arts’ promotion is littered with examples of onetime confidants turned heated rivals, and Masvidal-Covington now deserves a chapter of its own near the front of the book.

They’ve spent years warring through the media, most recently at a contentious news conference Thursday evening at Ka Theater in MGM Grand, and now get a chance to settle all their animosity. The disintegration of their relationship started about four years ago, right as the two reached the top of the UFC’s welterweight division where Kamaru Usman currently reigns.

Usman has beaten both Covington and Masvidal twice already, so tonight’s clash feels like a must-win for both fighters to maintain their spot at the top of the division.

There’s plenty to be decided before Covington vs. Masvidal, too.

The co-main event features former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos taking on hot prospect Renato Moicano in a 160-pound catchweight affair. Moicano took the bout on five days’ notice hoping to notch the most notable win of his career.

Speaking of longtime lightweight standouts, Edson Barboza continues his new run at featherweight by taking on a big-time prospect of his own in Bryce Mitchell. The betting odds paint it as the closest fight of the night, and it’s heavily anticipated for the striking-versus-grappling-type matchup it should present.

Before the three fights at the top, welterweights Kevin Holland and Alex Oliveira tangle as do heavyweights Sergey Spivak and Greg Hardy.

Stay tuned to lasvegassun.com for live round-by-round coverage of the UFC 272 main card and read below for full results from the preliminaries.

Jalin Turner scored the first knockout of the night to end the preliminary card, beating Jamie Mullarkey by TKO 46 seconds into the second round. Mullarkey couldn't successfully navigate Turner's length throughout the short duration of the fight.

In a first-rate women's strawweight slobber knocker, Marina Rodriguez edged Yan Xiaonan by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29).

Kennedy Nzechukwu seemed to outpoint Nicole Negumereanu in a light heavyweight bout, but the judges saw it differently. Negumereanu was declared the winner via split decision (29-27, 29-27, 27-29). Nzechukwu was deducted a point for an illegal eye poke but the penalty did not end up factoring in the decision.

The less-heralded American Top Team-related grudge match on the card went the underdog's way. Ukrainian veteran Maryna Moroz smothered young Kazakh Mariya Agapova with a second-round submission before giving a tearful shoutout to her home country.

Umar Nurmagomedov, the cousin of former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, did nothing to slow his considerable hype in a featherweight bout against Brian Kelleher. Nurmagomedov dispatched Kelleher 3:15 into the first round by submission via rear-naked choke.

Flyweight Tim Elliott scored a controversial unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) win over Tagir Ulanbekov. The crowd loved it as Elliott pushed the pace throughout, but Ulanbekov seemed to turn the tables over the last round-and-a-half, even finishing the fight by taking his opponent's back but it wasn't enough for the judges.

L’udovit Klein upset Devonte Smith on short notice in a lightweight bout, claiming a split decision victory (29-28, 29-28, 28-29). Klein didn’t allow Smith to get on track with his usual striking-heavy approach, and also fended off a couple takedown attempts.

Dustin Jacoby edged Michal Oleksiejczuk by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) in a lightweight bout. Oleksiejczuk started fast with his striking, but couldn’t keep up with Jacoby’s pace over the final two rounds.

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or