Colby Covington won’t be tuning in to the upcoming boxing rematch between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz.

Two of the welterweight division’s biggest stars of the past five years are set to run things back outside of an MMA cage. After retiring following a fourth consecutive loss last April, Masvidal (35-17) couldn’t stay away from the action. Meanwhile, his old foe Diaz debuted in boxing last August. They’ll have part two of their inaugural BMF showdown in Los Angeles, on June 1.

Although Masvidal and Diaz are two of the more prominent personalities in combat sports, their first encounter was nothing but respect. Masvidal won the bout via a third-round TKO from a doctor’s stoppage. The same couldn’t be said for Masvidal and Covington’s history and fight, the second to last for each.

The bitter rivalry between the two will never end at this point. Aside from “Gamebred,” Covington has never been impressed by Diaz either, who lost his boxing debut against Jake Paul by unanimous decision. Ultimately, Covington suggests avoiding the upcoming pay-per-view event.

“I’d put my money on the fans, you know,” Covington said on SOSCAST. “No one wants to see this fight. These guys aren’t boxers (laughs). I’d give the money back to the fans. I’m sorry that you have to pay for this circus clown show. This is not fighting.

“These are not even two boxers. These are two MMA fighters that are going into the boxing ring. So, I would say that I would apologize to the fans, give them their money right back.”

According to Covington, a three-time undisputed UFC title challenger, boxing in general is a “dead sport” in 2024. Matchups like the Masvidal-Diaz rematch only fuel that notion for “Chaos,” especially after seeing the career the aforementioned Paul has crafted.

Diaz, 38, was Paul’s fourth and most recent MMA-based opponent inside the squared circle. Before that win, Paul knocked out former welterweight champions Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley and won decisions over Woodley and Anderson Silva. However, Covington doesn’t see any of those bouts as legitimate, which is why he thinks Diaz took the match.

“He just wanted to take a dive for the money,” Covington said. “His UFC career is over. He couldn’t hack it in the UFC no more with us All-Stars, so he had to go take a dive.”

Since Diaz, Paul has moved on to boxing-centric opponents and earned first-round finishes of Andre August and Ryan Bourland. He next collides with boxing royalty Mike Tyson this coming July.

Covington has set his sights on a potential clash with Ian Machado Garry as his next move in MMA; however, if he were ever offered a shot at Paul, he’d be all over it.

“Yeah,” Covington responded when asked if he’d fight Paul. “But he would never fight me. He only wants to fight guys who are over the hill, in their 40s and 60s, like Mike Tyson.

“Jake knows. I’ve seen Jake out in Miami. He knows who daddy is. He knows who the king of Miami is.”

TOP STORIES

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Response. “Huge victory for UFC”: Fighters react to UFC’s $335 million settlement on antitrust lawsuits

Future. UFC class action attorney details next steps in settlement

Target. Michael “Venom” Page wants Ian Machado Garry fight at UFC’s return to England this summer: “Maybe you could stop me?”

Plan. Donn Davis: Francis Ngannou makes PFL debut “no later” than September at Saudi Arabia PPV

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Closure. UFC releases statement after reaching settlement in antitrust lawsuits

VIDEO STEW

The MMA Hour.

BKFC Knucklemania 4 Pre-Fight Presser.

Ribas vs. Namajunas preview.

UFC Connected: Nunes, Sandhagen, and Gordon.

Bellator Belfast Fight Week Vlog 2.

Full fight.

Invicta 1 KOs.

Fancy D’arce from Back Escape.

Fighter’s Flow with the creativity.

Cooking with Volk.

LISTEN UP

No Bets Barred. MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew and Conner Burks discuss UFC Vegas 89 and the return of Rose Namajunas, plus Bellator Belfast best bets.

MORNING MUSIC

If possible, I want to get more involvement and interaction, as I’m always looking to soak in more sounds. So, go to Twitter, use the #MorningReport hashtag, or find one of my tweets with it, and drop me a jam you’re currently really into. I’ll pick the best one alongside my daily choice and give you a shoutout!

Before that, some Clairo.

Pat, with the vacation vibes, follow the man for great MMA business insight. In the meantime, take us away, Michael.

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

I wish this were unbelievable.

Fixed.

K-1.

Ready.

Vacancy.

Always am.

Zombie fights.

Team Grasso.

Smiles.

Oh.

Big news.

Prep.

Diamond.

Media day.

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tim Means (33-15-1, 1 NC) vs. Uros Medic (9-2); UFC Vegas 91, April 27

Karen Date (8-2) vs. Yerin Hong(4-3); Pancrase 342, April 29

Takasuke Kume (25-7-4) vs. Yusuke Kasuya (13-8-2); Pancrase 342, April 29

Puja Tomar (8-4) vs. Rayanne Amanda (14-7); UFC Fight Night, June 8

FINAL THOUGHTS

PGF on Fight Pass is fantastic. If you haven’t heard about that tournament, it sounds super exciting. The more eyes, the better.

Thanks for reading!

EXIT POLL

If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @DrakeRiggs_ on Twitter and let him know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Facebook.

Author: Staff

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