Jorge Masvidal and Dustin Poirier are two of the UFC's most feared strikers, and their American Top Team sparring sessions have sparked real controversy. In 2021, former teammate Colby Covington released footage of Poirier dropping an amateur training partner just days before his UFC 264 fight with Conor McGregor, calling him fake for his nice-guy public image. Masvidal immediately defended Poirier online, firing back why don't you post the video of Dustin dropping you with a body shot, exposing Covington's own history sparring with Poirier. The pair have also traded genuine sparring footage of their own, with Masvidal posting intense training clips captioned train like your life depended on it. Known for relentless volume and ferocious knockout power, both men remain among combat sports' most respected gym partners. #ufc #mma #dustinpoirier #jorgemasvidal #sparring
Jorge Masvidal came to the defense of his American Top Team teammate Dustin Poirier after Colby Covington put out sparring footage meant to undermine Poirier's public image. The clip, released in 2021, showed Poirier dropping an amateur training partner just days before his UFC 264 fight with Conor McGregor.
Covington used the footage to label Poirier fake, arguing that the nice-guy persona he shows the public does not match what happens inside the gym. Masvidal answered online almost immediately. He challenged Covington to post the video of Poirier dropping him with a body shot, a jab at Covington's own history of sparring with Poirier.
The two American Top Team fighters have also shared training footage of their own. Masvidal has posted intense clips captioned "train like your life depended on it."
The fighters
Poirier, nicknamed "The Diamond," is a 37-year-old southpaw from the United States with a record of 30-10-0. He lands 5.24 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, and he averages 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes. He stands five-foot-nine with a 72-inch reach.
Masvidal, "Gamebred," is 41 and fights out of an orthodox stance. His record is 35-17-0. He lands 4.05 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy and averages 1.38 takedowns per 15 minutes. He is five-foot-eleven with a 74-inch reach.
Covington, "Chaos," is 38 and fights for MMA Masters. He is 17-5-0 and has built his career on wrestling, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes. He lands 3.81 significant strikes per minute at 38 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- The exchange shows how sparring footage has become a weapon in fighter feuds, with leaked clips used to shape reputations.
- It highlights the lingering friction among former American Top Team teammates, who trained together before Covington's departure.
- The numbers underline the contrast in styles: Poirier and Masvidal are volume strikers, while Covington leans on wrestling pressure.
