Jorge Masvidal signed a lucrative new contract with the UFC just hours ahead of Saturday’s UFC 272 welterweight main event against Colby Covington in Las Vegas.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, however Masvidal thanked his management team and UFC president Dana White over social media on Thursday night for “making sure my kids will never go hungry again.”
Masvidal’s co-agent Malki Kawa of First Round Management shed a bit more light on the deal over social media.
“New fight contract that makes jorge top 3 highest paid in ufc,” Kawa wrote on Twitter. “Good work team! Thank you (UFC) and (UFC chief business officer) hunter Campbell specifically for working on this contract with us.”
Masvidal, 37, enters Saturday’s bout having lost two fights in a row to Kamaru Usman.
Masvidal (35-15) and Covington (16-3) both fighting out of South Florida, and they were training partners at the vaunted American Top Team gym in Coconut Creek, Fla. But things went sideways between the two.
Covington, adopting a pro wrestling style persona, badmouthed Masvidal publicly, considered a no-no in MMA gym culture. Masvidal also accused Covington of stiffing a cornerman on his portion of Covington’s pay after a fight.
Both were kicked out of the gym as their beef heated up, but ultimately Masvidal was invited back while Covington’s ban became permanent.
–Field Level Media
