Tyron Woodley's fight prediction for Jorge Masvidal vs Colby Covington

Tyron Woodley has backed Jorge Masvidal to beat bitter rival Colby Covington at UFC 272.

‘Gamebred’ Masvidal headlines the T-Mobile Arena next month against former friend and roomate Covington in Las Vegas on March 5.

Former UFC welterweight champion Woodley, 40, was asked to predict the outcome of the much-anticipated grudge match.

And the American MMA fighter – who has made the transition over to the world of boxing – has tipped Masvidal, 37, to come out on top.

Woodley told MMA Junkie: “Masvidal just needs to … keep his emotions and not turn it into where he just wants to fight him and hurt him and try to embarrass him – just really use what he does best.

“He has the best boxing, I feel like, in MMA right now. I feel like his hand speed is crazy. His ability to work the body is nuts.

“Colby Covington does not like body shots. I knew it. Why I didn’t go there more often, I don’t know.

“Masvidal knows it. He gave me some tips on it. I think he’s just going to work him to the body.”

Woodley did acknowledge that Covington’s wrestling could come in handy against a dangerous striker like Masvidal.

He continued: “Colby has to go and take him down a million times. The unfortunate thing for Masvidal is, if he goes for 10, he’s going to get one.

“It’s a lot of cardio to try to come out with some fresh arms and make some accurate shots when you’ve been fighting that double leg, that single leg and back takes and just [the] annoying hanging on and lingering on and baby taps, just so they don’t stop you. That’s what he’s got to do.

“Colby’s dumb, but he’s smart. He’s stupid as f***, but he’s kind of smart as hell. He’s not going to make nobody fight a fight that don’t make sense.

“He didn’t have to wrestle Usman because Usman