UFC 272: Covington vs Masvidal – Preview

Live from Las Vegas, UFC 272 will see one of the biggest grudge matches of all time. Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal, former best friends and training partners, will finally square off. Since their rises to stardom, the pair’s friendship has fallen into a heated rivalry. In the co-main event, 5 rounds are scheduled for a catchweight bout between Rafael dos Anjos and Renato Moicano.

Let’s take a closer look at this card!

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(#1) Colby Covington (16-3) vs (#6) Jorge Masvidal (35-15) – welterweight main event

Two welterweight contenders with a deep hatred for one another will finally throw down in the UFC 272 marque.

Former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington has established himself as one of the very best in the world at 170lbs. The Oregon native possesses a high-level pedigree in wrestling, along with seemingly endless cardio. His pace and pressure always cause trouble for his opponents. Though he might be a disliked figure amongst fans, ‘Chaos‘ Covington is a dangerous fight for every fighter in his division.

The UFC’s official BMF champion, Jorge Masvidal is a fearless and violent fighter. Even though his roots may be in streetfighting, the recent years have seen the Miami’s finest become a technically proficient striker. Between wanting another title opportunity and his disdain for Covington, it’s clear that Masvidal is motivated to put on another sensational performance. Calculated kickboxing and heavy hands could be a recipe for a classic ‘Gamebred‘ knockout.

(#6 – LW) Rafael dos Anjos (30-13) vs Renato Moicano (16-4-1) – 160lb catchweight bout

A rising contender will step in on short notice to take on a former champion in rare 5-round non-title co-main event.

After his stint at 170lbs, former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos is looking to make another splash at 155lbs. The Brazilian utilises a mix aggressive striking and wrestling to pressure his opponents. Though he has been training continiously, dos Anjos has been out of action since his decision win against Paul Felder in 2020. An emphatic win at UFC 272 could further catapult ‘RDA’ into the title picture.

Never one to back away from a challenge, Renato Moicano stepped up to the plate to save the day on only days of notice. His last fight was only two weeks ago, where he dispatched of Alexander Hernandez. That win showed once more that Moicano’s fast hands and slick BJJ make him a real danger to the top 15. If he can win this weekend, there’s no doubt that 2022 will be a big year for the Brazilian.

(#10) Edson Barboza (22-10) vs (#11) Bryce Mitchell (14-0) – featherweight bout

The featured bout at UFC 272 will see a Brazilian striking veteran look to fend off a talented submission ace.

For a decade now, Edson Barboza has been a top contender in every division he has fought in. Since his jump to 145lbs, the kickboxer has looked impressive in his 4-fight run. Barboza’s flashy spinning attacks and chopping kicks are enough to make the hardcore fans wince. At 36 years old, this may be the final opportunity at a title run for the Brazilian, so, expect him to come out gun’s blazing.

If there is one thing that rivals Bryce Mitchell’s love for his home of Arkansas, it’s the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. ‘Thug Nasty‘ possesses an arsenal of grappling attacks, which he has effectively shown in all of his UFC performances. Having never been beaten in professional competition, Mitchell has been tapped as one of the hottest prospects at featherweight. With a win, he could become a real player in his division.

(#14 – MW) Kevin Holland (21-7, 1 NC) vs Alex Oliveira (22-11, 1 NC) – welterweight bout

Two Octagon wildmen will throw down in a welterweight showcase this weekend.

Once billed as the future of the middleweight division, Kevin Holland has fallen on hard times recently. His bouts against Derek Brunson, Marvin Vettori and Kyle Daukaus called for a change, in his eyes. Now, ‘Trailblazer‘ wants to bring his striking prowess – and loud mouth – to the 170lb division. Standing at 6’3″, Holland could become a legitimate contender if he can apply himself at welterweight.

Personally, I think that Alex ‘Cowboy‘ Oliveira is one of the UFC’s most underrated action fighters. He may not be an elite talent, but the Brazilian is more than willing to throw down and is a threat when on the offensive. Seemingly reaching the twighlight of his career, ‘Cowboy‘ will have to bring his A-game to get the best of Holland. No matter what happens, this will be a fun contest.

Serghei Spivac (13-3) vs Greg Hardy (7-4, 1 NC) – heavyweight bout

The opening bout for UFC 272’s main card will see heavyweight goliaths look to advance up the ladder to the top 15.

As one of the more overlooked fighters at heavyweight, Serghei Spivac is something of a dark horse. At only 27 years old, he has collected wins against Tai Tuivasa, Carlos Felipe and Alexey Oleinik. Spivac’s strong wrestling could cause major problems for his opponent, which could lead to 12th career finish. ‘The Moldovan Monster‘ is the A-side in this matchup, if you ask me.

To the ire of many, Greg Hardy has once again taken a main card slot on a pay-per-view event. The former football player has had mixed results against elite competition in MMA, but has shown improvement since his debut. One thing that makes Hardy in every fight is his knockout power, having six stoppages in seven wins. This very much looks like a challenge against Spivak, but the heavy hands of ‘The Prince of War‘ could read another KO win.

Jalin Turner (11-5) vs Jamie Mullarkey (14-4) – lightweight bout

The featured UFC 272 prelim is a showdown between two heavy-handed lightweight prospects.

Since his 2018 debut, Jalin Turner has put together a 4-1 UFC record at lightweight, with four finishes. The DWCS alum stands at a gargantuan 6’3″, making him one of the tallest fighters at 155lbs. With a blend of power and slick chokes, ‘The Tarantula’ is a fighter who could become a contender sooner rather than later.

After a rocky promotional start, Australia’s Jamie Mullarkey has put himself on a KO-streak since 2020. Knockout wins over Khama Worthy and Devonte Smith has placed Mullarkey on many fans’ top prospect list. Should he pick up his 14th career finish this weekend, the top 15 could be close ahead for the 27 year old.

(#3) Marina Rodriguez (15-1-2) vs (#4) Yan Xiaonan (13-2, 1 NC) – strawweight bout

A potential title opportunity is at stake when a surging Brazilian contender takes on a Chinese striking expert at UFC 272.

2021 truly was the breakout year for Marina Rodriguez. Wins over Amanda Ribas, Michelle Waterson and Mackenzie Dern established Rodriguez as a title threat to be reckoned with at 115lbs. She possesses one of the more well-rounded arsenals in her division. A fourth straight win could catapult Rodriguez into her first promotional title fight later in the year.

China’s Yan Xiaonan made history by becoming the woman of her country to be signed to the UFC. An impressive 8-1 run outside the promotion led to her signing, where she has since ammassed a six wins. Though her last fight was a loss to Carla Esparza, Xiaonan is still a serious title contender at strawweight. The speedy and vicious kicks of ‘Fury‘ could line her up for her seventh UFC win this weekend.

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What do you make of this card? Who will leave with bragging rights in the main event’s bitter grudge match? Let us know in the comments!