JORGE MASVIDAL will have the chance to finally silence Colby Covington this weekend.
This weekend, the MMA veteran will be reunited with his old team-mate and enemy on a UFC 272 card in Las Vegas.
They were best friends, but their relationship ended four years ago.
The grudge match is a huge hit with fight fans all over the globe. It has been almost FOUR years in the planning, thanks to their very public fallout.
They are excited about the possibility of Masvidal, an elite striker, taking on a Covington-based world-class wrestler.
Few striker-versus-grappler match-ups have drummed up this much excitement - which is a testament to the pair's pulling power.
SunSport felt it was only right to outline both Masvidal and Masvidal's paths to victory.
Jorge Masvidal's secrets to victory at UFC 272
You can be the first to set the pace.
It's obvious that winning any fight is about being the first to dictate the pace. It's even more crucial when you are fighting a cardio machine such as Covington.
It doesn't matter if you like him or not, Covington is unstoppable in his speed and volume of strikes.
Former UFC Welterweight Champs Robbie Lawler, and Tyron Woodley were drowned in the multitude of combinations Covington used in their fights.
Masvidal would be foolish to allow his ex-friend to gain steam and settle in to his suffocating rhythms early.
He must disrupt the rhythm and put him on the back foot. This is something we have only witnessed twice.
Use his boxing to create combinations for the body
Masvidal must use his superior skillset to get Covington off the back foot or at least second-guess his attack plan.
Despite all the improvements Covington made in his striking over recent years, his stand up is still a far cry from Masvidal's.
He'll need to punch in lots, but he'll also have to be aware of when he throws or overcommits. If he does this, he could be facing a level change as well as a takedown attempt.
Masvidal should not allow emotions to take over and headhunt the fight.
Kamaru Usman, the world-weight king of Welterweights, twice demonstrated that Covington can be injured by body shots.
He would be foolish to not make multiple deposits into the body shot bank, which will chip away Covington’s gas tank set up for power punches upstairs.
Do not offer too many incentives
Masvidal will need to learn how to use kicks and knees in order to reach the midriff of the self-declared "Cardio King" when investing in bodywork.
He would be wise to not rely too heavily on them as repeated offers of his lower limbs and drink will be meant for former NCAA All-American wrestler Covington.
He should use switch kicks, quick stance changes with onrushing hooks, and should also make good use of his UFC London win over Darren Till.
Covington will have to switch stances repeatedly, along with some effective feinting. This will make it difficult for him to cover his head or body, leaving significant opportunities for Masvidal.
