Colby Covington filed a lawsuit against Jorge Masvidal seeking damages in excess of $50,000 after an attack outside a restaurant in Miami Beach in 2022.
The lawsuit was filed in Miami-Dade County, Florida, on March 23.
In documentation filed with the courts and obtained by MMA Fighting, Covington’s attorneys detail how he fought and defeated Masvidal in the UFC back in 2022, but afterwards, the one-time “BMF” champion said in his post-fight interview that “if I see him out in the streets, I’m going
to give him everything I got to break his f*cking jaw.”
On March 21, Covington exited Papi Steak restaurant in Miami Beach and Masvidal “ambushed” him and “initiated a physical attack …without warning.” The lawsuit states that Masvidal struck Covington “with a closed fist” to the face, and the attack was “sudden, intentional and calculated” and gave the former UFC interim welterweight champion no chance to defend himself.
Criminal charges were eventually filed against Masvidal, and he later reached a plea deal with prosecutors where he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery. He was sentenced to time served, and the court held him responsible for paying all fees attached to the case, but he faced no additional jail time.
After his court hearing ended, Masvidal took to social media, where he fired back at Covington again over the incident.
“F*ck you, Colby,” Masvidal said. “It’s going to be a f*cking movie now. All these orders, all these restraining orders been lifted off. It’s going to be a f*cking movie.”
Covington’s attorneys claim that Masvidal’s attack was “unprovoked” and “deliberate, malicious and carried out with the intent to cause harm.”
As a result of the attack, Covington claims he “suffered bodily injury and resulting pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, physical impairment, mental anguish, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, expense of hospitalization, medical and nursing care and treatment.” Covington’s attorney argue that the injuries “are either permanent or continuing” and the veteran welterweight “will suffer the losses in the future.”
Covington is seeking “all allowable damages and for such other and further relief, in law or in equity” that “may be justly entitled.” In the cover sheet to his lawsuit, Covington’s attorneys noted that he was actually seeking over $100,000 in total damages.
No court date has been set yet after the lawsuit was filed in March.
Since that altercation took place in 2022, Covington has fought twice in the UFC, losing to Leon Edwards and Joaquin Buckley. More recently, Covington has been competing in RAF while picking up wins over Luke Rockhold and Dillon Danis.
As for Masvidal, he retired from the sport just over a year after his fight against Covington but eventually returned for a boxing match against Nate Diaz. Masvidal also announced plans to compete in the UFC again, but he hasn’t been booked for a fight.
