Source: ESPN.com

Jorge Masvidal, former UFC star, has pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor battery charge stemming from an alleged attack on his former friend and UFC rival, Colby Covington, in March 2022. Masvidal's attorney, Saam Zangeneh, confirmed the plea deal with ESPN.

In the plea deal, the two felony charges against Masvidal, aggravated battery and criminal mischief, were dropped. As part of the agreement, Masvidal was sentenced to time served, which included several hours spent in jail and multiple court appearances over the past 20 months. He is also required to pay court costs.

Records from the Miami-Dade County court show that Masvidal's case is classified as a conviction with credit for time served.

After the plea deal, Masvidal took to Instagram to share a video with the caption: "Victory Monday!"

The incident in question occurred on March 21, 2022, when Masvidal allegedly punched Covington twice outside a steakhouse in Miami Beach. This incident came just over two weeks after Covington defeated Masvidal in a UFC fight that was marked by intense build-up and trash talk. Covington had made derogatory remarks about Masvidal's children, leading to tensions between the former friends and roommates.

Masvidal's attorney, Bradford Cohen, expressed his dissatisfaction with the case on Instagram, stating, "This case was bulls---. Colby threatens to kill my client on sight. Instead of living up to that threat, he runs and hides behind a hostess stand. Then files criminal charges. Colby is a real millennial."

According to the police report, Covington suffered a chipped or broken tooth as a result of the incident. He later claimed in court that he had sustained a brain injury due to the blows.

Following his retirement from the UFC in April, Masvidal, 38, announced his plans to transition to boxing and aims to return to competition in early 2024.

The resolution of this legal matter allows Masvidal to move forward with his plans for the future, while Covington continues to recover from the alleged assault.