UFC: Five fights to make as Colby Covington gets laugh last against rival Jorge Masvidal

In the main event of UFC 272, Colby Covington won a long-awaited grudge match against Jorge Masvidal, outpointing his former friend over five rounds.

With each fighter having unsuccessfully challenged reigning welterweight champion Kamaru Usman on two occasions, even Covington has some work to do to get back to a title shot.

Here’s a look at whom the American should fight next as he looks to stay on the edge of the title picture at 170lbs, as well as where Masvidal and the other protagonists from Saturday’s event in Las Vegas should turn.

Colby Covington vs Gilbert Burns / Khamzat Chimaev

Covington has lost twice to Usman but could make the case for a third shot at the “Nigerian Nightmare” with another big win following his victory over Masvidal. Perhaps Covington needs two more wins to get back to Usman, though the champion looks set to defend his belt against a game Leon Edwards in the near future, and a fresh face atop the division would likely shorten Covington’s route to the summit.

If the former interim champion can get past former title challenger Burns or rising star Chimaev, he will be considerably closer to the gold. Burns and Chimaev go head-to-head at UFC 274 in May, so the winner of that bout makes sense as Covington’s next opponent.

After beating Masvidal, Covington actually called out another former teammate in Dustin Poirier, who has teased a move up from lightweight. That fight would make the UFC a good amount of money and follow a build-up that would surely be engaging, but it seems unlikely that Poirier would give Covington what he wants by agreeing to step in the ring with him.

Jorge Masvidal vs Conor McGregor

Masvidal is 37 and is on a three-fight losing run. He has twice challenged for the