MMA fighter Jorge Masvidal cuts plea deal for sucker-punching rival Colby Covington in Miami

MMA fighter Jorge Masvidal took a plea deal Monday for sucker-punching rival Colby Covington outside a Miami steakhouse in 2022.

Masdival had been charged with two felonies for the attack, but pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery, ESPN reported. He was sentenced to time served — essentially his brief time in jail after the attack and follow-up court appearances.

“I just beat the case,” Masvidal said in an Instagram video. “I want to thank God, and I also want to thank [my attorney] because I’m a free f—ing man.”

Masvidal and Covington were longtime friends, training partners and roommates as they came up through UFC. However, the two had a falling out and fought a headlining bout at UFC 272 on March 5, 2022. Covington dominated the fight and won by unanimous decision.

A few weeks later, the two rivals reconnected at Papi Steak in Miami. Grainy video appeared to show Masvidal sucker-punching Covington outside the restaurant. The victim told police he suffered a concussion and broken teeth.

Masvidal was booked on felony charges of aggravated battery and criminal mischief. He posted bail and was released after a few hours behind bars.

After the case concluded, Masvidal’s lawyer Brad Cohen claimed that Covington made verbal threats outside the restaurant and then ran away.

“Although any [attorney] would be happy, having 2nd degree felonies dismissed for a time served Misdemeanor, this case was bulls–t,” Cohen wrote Monday on Instagram. “Colby threatens to kill my client on sight. Instead of living up to that threat, he runs and hides behind a hostess stand. Then files criminal charges. Colby is a real millennial.”

In his own Instagram video, Masvidal insinuated that he would be willing to fight Covington again.

“F— you, Colby,” he said. “It’s going to be a f—ing movie now. All these orders, all these restraining orders, all these things have been lifted off.”

However, the 38-year-old Masvidal retired from UFC in April 2023. Covington, 35, still fights for the promotion.