Taking place at the gorgeous T-Mobile Arena in glitzy Las Vegas, UFC 272 features an explosive top-end of the card. In the main event of the night, former interim UFC Welterweight Champion Colby Covington takes on the keeper of the Shadow Realm, Jorge Masvidal. Coming into the fight, both competitors are coming off losses to UFC Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and are looking to make their way back to the top of the welterweight division.
Below, SBS breaks down the biggest fight at UFC 272, what makes each competitor stand out, and ultimately, who will win in the main event.
What to look for from: Colby Covington
One of the top contenders in the UFC Welterweight division, Covington has already amassed an impressive MMA career. With his 16-3 record, Covington has established himself as one of the most polarizing fighters in the modern UFC. He has described himself as the “super villain” of the UFC and has drawn the ire of fans and foes alike with his brazen trash talking and antics outside of the ring.
Has this gotten into the heads of his opponents? Perhaps, with one UFC Welterweight Championship to his name, Covington has certainly earned his keep in the division. Other than two losses to Usman, Covington has an almost perfect record otherwise thanks to his ability to win on the ground (four submission victories), through force (four knockout wins), and via points (eight wins). Covington’s last couple of fights have been spectacular showdowns too with Fight of the Night honors at UFC 245 vs. Usman, a TKO win over Tyron Woodley in September of 2020, and a tough loss to Usman again at UFC 268.
What to look for from: Jorge Masvidal
The current holder of the UFC ‘BMF’ Championship belt, Masvidal is certainly another maverick inside of the UFC ring. A long-time veteran of the sport, the 37-year old Masvidal has compiled a professional MMA career record of 35-15 with victories coming not only in the UFC, but in Bellator, Strikeforce, and against Kimbo Slice’s protégé “Ray” in the early-2000’s (though this is unofficial). The native of Miami, Florida also holds the record for the fastest knockout in UFC history at five seconds.
As of late, Masvidal has had a rough go of things against the top of the UFC Welterweight division. In his last two fights, Masvidal lost to Usman at UFC 251 (unanimous decision) and again at UFC 261 (knockout via punch). However, this could be the turning point fight he has been looking for since he won the BMF title at UFC 244 against Nate Diaz. One of the grittiest fighters in the game, it would also be wise to never count out Masvidal in a street fight like the one we will surely see at UFC 272.
Prediction: With both having faced off against Usman in the last year, we will use that as the measuring stick. Covington was able to go the distance with the Welterweight champion, whereas Masvidal was knocked out in the second round. Having that in mind, look for Covington to take out Masvidal in Vegas.
As you are finalizing your UFC 272 wagers, make sure to check out a couple more resources before you wrap up your picks. One of the first places you should always look at is the SBS homepage for UFC betting and articles. This page is a great way to stay on top of your picks and also fantastic for finding the best sites for placing your wagers, like BetOnline. It is incredibly helpful to have options to make sure all of your betting strategies are aligned correctly.
Another helpful resource to have at your disposal is the SBS breakdown on bonus resources. This handy guide will give you the lowdown on the best sign-up promotions available to bolster your picks and give you the best bang for your bucks. With any of these websites though, they make it easy for you to find the best wagers for your budget, however it is up to you to string together the best combination of promo bonuses. With these guides, you have the ability to always maximize your bets.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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