Following UFC 253, Dana White was asked about a variety of topics at his post-fight press conference. One of the questions he was asked was about Nate Diaz. Diaz had posted a trailer earlier in the day essentially trying to pump up fans for a rematch with Jorge Masvidal.
However, the UFC seems to be switching up their plans after last weekend. The UFC was close to finalizing the rematch between Masvidal and Diaz, but after Colby Covington‘s victory at UFC Vegas 11, the promotion has other plans.
When asked about what’s next for Masvidal, White said that a fight with Colby Covington makes sense. When asked if the UFC was looking to book that fight, White responded saying, “It’s very possible,” with a smile.
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White is right about one thing, and that is that Masvidal – Covington is the fight to make. Both of these UFC welterweights rank inside the top four in the division. Both have lost to the current champion Kamaru Usman, but are primed for rematches.
In addition to their UFC rankings, there is a ton of personal beef between the two men. Masvidal and Covington were former training partners and roommates. At one point, the two fighters labeled each other as brothers.
However, when Covington changed up his style to benefit his career, it created a riff between the two UFC welterweights. Masvidal and Covington have grown to have a strong hatred for the other, and they’ve been jawing at each other for a while.
A fight between the two of them makes perfect sense for the promotion, and it’s a much better fight for the UFC than the Diaz rematch. White made another point at the press conference saying the rematch with Diaz will, “Always be there.”
Covington said after his victory at UFC Vegas 11 that Masvidal needed to answer for all the things he said. This would be the perfect title eliminator for the promotion. The winner should be next in line to face the winner of Kamaru Usman – Gilbert Burns which takes place in December.