They call him “gamebred,” but the fight game sure seems to be getting the best of UFC fighter Jorge Masvidal as of late.

In 2019, Masvidal had as strong a year in mixed martial arts as nearly anyone in the sport’s history. Two brutal KO wins and a doctor stoppage victory in the first and only “Baddest Mother**ker” (BMF) title fight against Nate Diaz. The BMF belt was nothing but a gimmick, but at the very least, it gave recognition to a crafty veteran who has never, nor will he ever, won a genuine UFC belt.

Since then, the 37-year old journeyman has fallen flat. He has been 0-3 since 2019, suffering two lopsided decision losses and a brutal knockout. It has exposed him for what he really is, a good but not great fighter who will never be able to contend with the very best. A loss earlier this month to #1 welterweight contender Colby Covington has also shown him to be a loser outside of the octagon. The fight between the two, at UFC 272, was billed as a grudge match for the ages between best friends turned arch enemies. The trash-talk leading up to the fight was bombastic and relatively uninspiring. Both men raised their voices at each other, trying to get in their side of various conflicts that drove them apart. One thing that clearly got on Masvidal’s nerves, however, visibly, was when Covington directed the talk towards his kids and shortcomings as a father and husband.

This is not me making excuses for Colby Covington. The man has built his persona around saying things that could not be said in any other sport. However, MMA is not like any other sport, so being able to handle trash talk is an expectation as much as it is a right for one to engage in it. After all, as Colby once said, These men and women are literally fighting in a cage in their underwear for the world to see. If you can do that, you can handle some mean words.

To make a long story short, Masvidal was thoroughly dominated in the bout, looking so exhausted that all he could do was cover up and absorb punishment for minutes at a time. He looked timid, flat on the feet, and broken by the end of it.

Losses will happen, but Masvidal looked particularly silly in light of his prefight promise that he would leave Colby “in critical condition” and “he might not make it.”

All the threats, talk, and the man didn’t do a damn thing outside of a single right hook for 25 minutes inside that octagon.

What happened next is, in my opinion, as stupid as it is harmful to the sport. On Monday, Masvidal jumped Covington as he was leaving a Miami restaurant throwing two sucker punches and leaving him with minor injuries to his teeth, eye, and wrist. Covington wisely did not engage, but instead, he went back to the restaurant and called the police. Allegedly, Masvidal then had to be held back while screaming, “Don’t talk about my kids!”. Masvidal and his manager would then take to social media to brag about the attack and justify it.

Yesterday, he was arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a mask and felony criminal mischief.

ARREST: MBPD Detectives have arrested and charged Jorge Masvidal with:
– Aggravated Battery w/Mask
– Felony Criminal Mischief

See reports and booking photo below for more details. pic.twitter.com/OkW6LbZQHn

— Miami Beach Police (@MiamiBeachPD) March 24, 2022

For Masvidal to do this is incredibly disappointing for several reasons.

– If he cares about his children as much as he claims, enough that someone talking about them gives him cause for assault, he should realize that he can’t be there for them if he is in jail.

– He has repeatedly stated that nothing in the fight game is personal and that he just likes to “break people’s faces.” Clearly, he is an emotional fighter whose emotions got the best inside and out of the octagon.

– Reflects poorly on the sport.

Jorge Masvidal doesn’t deserve to be defended for his actions, let alone defended for them. It doesn’t matter if Colby “had it coming”; this type of behaviour is still criminal. It is downright cowardly and somewhat amusing that he is out there patting himself on the pack for a cheap shot when he was previously dominated in a fair fight.

Colby Covington is not a coward for calling the police; he is wise. He realizes that fighting outside of a sanctioned bout is not a good idea professionally, legally, or personally. Why engage in a street fight and risk jail time, losing fights, endorsements, and financial security. Colby wins on all counts because he has demonstrated his professionalism and restraint. He went to work, outclassing Masvidal inside and out of the octagon.

What Jorge Masvidal did wasn’t just wrong; it was plain stupid.