Getty Colby Covington (L) and Jorge Masvidal battle in their welterweight fight during UFC 272.
UFC superstar Jorge Masvidal is accused of getting into a physical altercation with fellow welterweight Colby Covington earlier this year.
A new audio clip of the 911 call made after the March 21 altercation has been released. An off-duty police officer can be heard requesting for backup in the audio acquired by TMZ Sports.
Initially, the officer asked dispatch for multiple units to get to the scene quickly: “Can we send a bunch of, or a few units,” he added. “If you could just send units on a three, please.”
He informed that he had spoken to Covington, who is listed only as an unnamed victim in the police report, and told the dispatcher the UFC star informed him that Masvidal “sucker punched while he was eating dinner.”
The location of the incident was also confirmed to be the Papi steakhouse, a famous high-end steak restaurant in Miami where Covington was having dinner with the Nelk Boys following a podcast show they had done together earlier that day.
Masvidal Is Facing Charges Accusing Him of Attacking Covington
Just over two weeks after the pair collided inside the octagon at UFC 272 on March 5, the “BMF” title holder was arrested and charged with aggravated battery and criminal mischief. Police said he is accused of attacking Covington using a mask and a hoodie as disguise, according to MMA Junkie.
TMZ obtained a video showing the aftermath of the altercation where Covington could be seen outside the restaurant surrounded by police. He was talking to the officers detailing where he said the attack that had just happened.
“He’s over here swinging, trying to come at me, and I ran,” Covington can be heard saying in the video obtained by TMZ. “How would he know I’m here?”
Following the affair, Masvidal was also reported to have said “you shouldn’t have been talking about my kids,” according to the police report.
Covington had told the officers on the scene that he suffered a broken tooth and damage to his Rolex. In later court documents obtained by TMZ, Covington told police he suffered a “brain injury” from the incident and that Masvidal “knowingly or intentionally” caused him “great bodily harm.”
Masvidal pleaded not guilty to the felony charges and was issued a stay away order prohibiting him from being less than 25 feet from Covington while the legal proceedings remain ongoing, court records show. The case is scheduled for a hearing in Miami-Dade County court on August 31.
Things Got Personal Between Masvidal & Covington
Things got heated between the best friends turned enemies Masvidal and Covington. Their rivalry reached its peak in the build-up to their bout. During the UFC 272 media day, Covington did not hesitate to make things personal as he bashed “Gamebred” for being a “deadbeat dad.”
Masvidal took issue with Covington talking about his kids just to promote the event, and responded to his allegations, declaring, “I want to hurt this guy like I’ve never hurt anyone before.”
Both title challengers were going into the bout following two losses each to the reigning welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. While Covington secured a win over former champion Tyron Woodley in between his contests with Usman, Masvidal lost his two fights in a row before dropping a third consecutive bout to Covington.