The latest episode of Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweights
Colby
Covington vs. Jorge
Masvidal has just been ratcheted up a notch.
On Thursday, Masvidal appeared on a Zoom call to enter his pleas of
not guilty with the 11th Circuit Court of Florida, with Judge
Zachary James presiding over the case. As a result, Masvidal has
been issued a stay-away order, which will require him to stay at
least 25 feet away from Covington, while not coming anywhere closer
than 500 feet of Covington’s residence. “Gamebred” cannot contact
Covington in any capacity, including by text message or phone call,
as well. The next hearing date will be May 12, which is a status
hearing that will review the proceedings to that point and possibly
set a trial date.
Advertisement
Modifying his
initial complaint, Covington stated that in addition to a
fractured tooth, the abrasion to his wrist and the damage to his
Rolex watch, he claims he suffered “brain injury” from the alleged
attack. This stems from the charge of aggravated battery with the
intent or knowledge of causing great bodily harm, which now
includes brain injury. Masvidal and his team are likely to
challenge this by requesting a medical examination of Covington as
part of discovery, along with a review of the aforementioned
damaged Rolex, by motion of court.
In accordance with Marsy’s Law in Florida, the victim of an alleged
attack is typically allowed anonymity if desired in the court
proceedings. The initials “C.C.” stood as the injured party, but
this hearing formally revealed his identity as Covington, as
confirmed by Judge James. Covington did not physically appear at
the hearing, and like Masvidal, contacted in through a Zoom
call.
This situation, and the subsequent legal issues that have come from
it, started with an alleged attack outside of the Papi Steak
Restaurant in Miami, in which Masvidal is claimed to have struck
Covington multiple times to cause the damage listed in the charges.
During the assault, Covington stated that Masvidal shouted, “You
shouldn’t have been talking about my kids,” and Covington wrote
that he recognized Masvidal from his voice and appearance behind a
surgical mask. If convicted, the charges against Masvidal are
punishable by up to 15 years in prison, and a $10,000 fine. The
charge of aggravated battery by a person that is concealing their
face or hair with a mask has since been dropped, per the Miami-Dade
County Clerk of the Courts.