Jorge Masvidal’s eyes lit up at the prospect of his teammate Dustin Poirier fighting his old friend-turned-arch-nemesis Colby Covington. In a sport full of so many forced narratives and fake rivalries, the UFC has an opportunity to capitalize on a fascinating arc involving genuine bad blood and plenty of star power.

In an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, Jorge Masvidal didn’t mince words when discussing his rival Colby Covington. The interview, led by Andrew Whitelaw, shed light on a potential clash between Covington and Masvidal’s longtime teammate, Dustin Poirier. Although Poirier has brushed off rumors about a UFC fight with Covington, Masvidal remains adamant about playing a crucial role in helping Poirier prepare for such a matchup.

Jorge Masvidal Backs Dustin Poirier in Potential Grudge Match Against Colby Covington: ‘I’ll Be in His Corner’”

The story goes back a decade – the trio trained happily together at the Coconut Creek branch of American Top Team. Masvidal and Covington were as thick as thieves, even sharing an apartment. However, as Covington adopted a new ‘heel’ persona in the UFC, he began to alienate people, leading to a falling out with both ‘Gamebred’ and Poirier, who didn’t take kindly to some of Covington’s antics. ‘Chaos’ blames Poirier for getting him kicked out of the gym, and they have been at odds ever since.

Covington got his chance to settle his grudge with Masvidal with a unanimous decision win at UFC 272 two years ago. He then took to the mic to call out ‘The Diamond’.’ Despite Poirier dismissing the rumors, the two have been constantly linked to a potential fight and were speculated to meet at UFC 309. If the fight does materialize, Masvidal is determined to help his friend get the better of their mutual adversary.

Speaking to EssentiallySports’ Andrew Whitelaw, Masvidal said: “100%. If he’s fighting Colby—he’s not going to get a second without me. Because I know how this f****** crotch-sniffer fights. And his dirty tactics: eye poking, shots to the back of the head, f****** throwing illegal knees to the balls. I know how the coward fights, so I’ll definitely be up and down with Dustin.”

For now, the fight remains hypothetical, with Covington being heavily linked to a bout with Ian Garry. Poirier has flirted with the idea of retirement but recently declared he wants two more fights before calling it quits. The animosity between him and Covington makes the prospect of a UFC showdown tantalizing for most fans. However, ironically, the sheer level of bad blood from Poirier’s point of view might actually be what prevents the clash from happening inside the Octagon.

Speaking in an interview with Fight Bananas in September, the Louisiana native said: “He’ll never make money with me, it’s BS,” said the former interim UFC lightweight champion. “I’ll never fight Colby in an Octagon where there’s finances on the line. If I fight Colby, we’re both going to jail. He’s not making money off my career and what I’ve done. You will never see me fight Colby Covington in the UFC.”

In some respects, it would be a shame if this fight never came to fruition. It’s a storyline that people can easily invest in, as there’s an authenticity to the tension that burns brightly not just between the two would-be opponents but also Covington’s former best friend, Masvidal. The pair’s conflict runs deep and even resulted in a court case following a confrontation in a Florida steakhouse.

You never know in this sport, and perhaps Masvidal will get another chance to throw down with his old pal in the UFC. The former BMF champion has been focused on his Gamebred Fighting Championship promotion since retiring in 2023.

But following his boxing match with Nate Diaz last year, the 39-year-old has felt the itch and is planning a return to MMA. “I am coming back harder than ever. I’ve been training. Your boy is in shape! Opponent, time, location—we don’t know yet, but someone is going to sleep, brother,” Masvidal added.

There are many fun options out there for Masvidal when he makes that walk. The same goes for Covington and Poirier. Whether they end up standing across from each other remains to be seen, but with such a tempestuous history between the trio, this rivalry no doubt has more chapters left to run.