Replace (3/24): Jorge Masvidal was arrested Wednesday evening and charged with aggravated battery and felony mischief, each felonies, for (allegedly) slugging Colby Covington twice within the face. If this really is a professional wrestling-style work, as we hypothesize beneath, the extent of dedication is spectacular.

Right here is a few footage of a handcuffed Masvidal skipping into jail: 

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We’ve seen this storyline play out earlier than. As a substitute of within the octagon, it’s been confined to the world {of professional} wrestling, when the entanglements of the squared circle aren’t sufficient to settle scores between two rivals. The feud between two of the UFC’s finest welterweights reportedly spilled over into Miami’s streets late Monday night when Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington had an alleged combat that included an unidentified good friend of Covington’s.

The incident has all of the substances of a staged parking zone brawl. We had previous jabs on social media, a earlier match, with Covington handing Masvidal his third straight loss earlier this month at UFC 272 by way of unanimous choice, and the duo residing in the identical city. All that was lacking was the rigorously crafted digital camera angles to finest present the “sneak” assault and convey the assailant in an evil mild.

Oddly, the simple storyline has been flipped on this situation. Masvidal, higher match to play a babyface, the wrestling time period for a personality the viewers cheers, was the alleged instigator and attacker. Covington has fed right into a heel persona, the canon villain, all through his UFC profession. Each fighters on-camera personalities would make for nice professional wrestling characters. Masvidal even joined American High Crew in All Elite Wrestling final 12 months, delivering a working knee strike to Chris Jericho, much like his five-second knockout of Ben Askren in July 2019. Additionally concerned within the section had been UFC alumni Andrei Arlovski, Junior Dos Santos and Paige VanZant, the latter of whom signed an AEW contract earlier this month and has begun coaching beneath former WWE star Gangrel.

Covington has performed up his pro-MAGA persona, a personality additionally adopted in wrestling during the last a number of years, since an October 2017 win over Brazilian fighter Damien Maia in Sao Paulo. He referred to as the nation “a dump” and Brazilians “a bunch of filthy animals.” He’s constantly pandered to former President Donald Trump’s base since, bringing the UFC Welterweight Championship to the White Home in 2018. Related assaults have been made towards Kamaru Usman, Tyron Woodley and LeBron James. And Covington himself has expressed an curiosity in professional wrestling, telling Sports activities Illustrated earlier this month that he’d “like to cross over” to a WWE profession when his MMA days are over.

Masvidal has additionally created chaos outdoors the UFC’s area earlier than, getting right into a heated spat with Usman himself on the Tremendous Bowl’s radio row in 2020. When showing for AEW within the clip above, he’s carrying Dolce & Gabbana, removed from conventional apparel. After knocking out Askren, he didn’t go to his nook and have a good time. He determined to get on the bottom subsequent to the susceptible Askren and proceed to speak shit.

The out-of-ring altercation allegedly stems from this Covington interview, the place he states about Masvidal: “When you didn’t have these actions, I wouldn’t be capable to have something to speak about. If he wasn’t a deadbeat dad, he doesn’t even discuss to his children. He’s tried to erase the mom of his youngsters and his spouse, nonetheless legally on paper, Marisa Masvidal, from the historical past of the web.” UFC President Dana White has but to touch upon the incident or the verbal low blows between two of his hottest fighters. Masvidal has spoken on social media, tweeting about it on Tuesday morning.

In keeping with a Miami Seaside police report, Masvidal is suspected of felony battery. The third individual concerned within the altercation misplaced enamel, based on a Miami Seaside police report. No prices have been formally filed from the incident but, whereas TMZ has obtained video from the alleged dust-up. Covington is seen pondering how Masvidal knew the place he was consuming dinner after a great deal of trash speaking between the 2.

There have been dozens of professional wrestling storylines the place assaults outdoors arenas have been integral to the story. Stone Chilly Steve Austin tussled with Booker T in a grocery retailer and Austin additionally fought Vince McMahon in a hospital room. John Cena as soon as threw Edge into the Lengthy Island Sound. How about Triple H’s dwelling invasion of Randy Orton?

The disparity between actual and faux in combined martial arts has by no means been extra blurred. Ronda Rousey, Bobby Lashley, Brock Lesnar, Dan Severn, Matt Riddle, Ken Shamrock and Shayna Baszler have all worn trunks in each rings. And the right end result out of the Masvidal/Covington combat outdoors of Miami Seaside restaurant Papi Steak is to ultimately settle their variations at a UFC pay-per-view down the road. It’s sensible reserving. White is aware of he should capitalize on this, similar to it will be scripted in professional wrestling.

Every other conclusion doesn’t make sense and each fighters know methods to discuss folks into shopping for tickets and pay-per-views. A bit of hassle with the legislation for both man doesn’t change the massive payday each would obtain for a rematch, no matter end result. Keep in mind the worldwide tour Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather put collectively, solely to kiss and make up proper after the boxing match ended, presenting the entire thing as a public-relations ruse simply to make extra coin? Covington and Masvidal may legitimately hate one another however they’re pure showmen who know to remain related. Taking part in on the tropes of professional wrestling will proceed to occur if it advantages their financial institution accounts.