Covington targets Masvidal for first title defense if he wins at UFC 245

Colby Covington already knows who he wants to defend the UFC welterweight title against if he wins it at UFC 245.

"Chaos," who challenges champion Kamaru Usman in Saturday's main event, asked fans at an athlete panel Wednesday in Las Vegas who they wanted to see him fight after "The Nigerian Nightmare." After hearing the crowd's reaction, Covington concluded that his next opponent would be former training partner Jorge Masvidal.

"As the people's champion, I'd like to ask the people who they'd like to see me fight next," Covington said. "Should it be journeyman Jorge Masvidal? Should it be GSP? Should it be (Khabib Nurmagomedov) "Kabob?" Should it be that Irish leprechaun that couldn't even knock a drunk dude, old dude off a stool in the bar?"

Covington paused, then added: "Who should it be? Who? Masvidal? Looks like it's going to be 'Street Judas; Journeyman Jorge.'"

Covington and Masvidal used to train together at American Top Team in South Florida. They once considered each other best friends, but they recently had a falling out and have been feuding on social media and in various interviews.

Masvidal's had a breakout year, scoring finishes of Darren Till, Ben Askren, and most recently, Nate Diaz, who he defeated at UFC 244 in November for the BMF title.

Covington is coming off a unanimous-decision win over ex-champ Robbie Lawler in August. The 31-year-old is riding an eight-fight winning streak.

UFC 245 features two other title fights: Max Holloway vs. Alexander Volkanovski at featherweight and Amanda Nunes vs. Germaine de Randamie at women's bantamweight.