Papi Steak restaurant altercation (Miami Beach)

On March 21, 2022, authorities responded to an incident outside Papi Steak in Miami Beach involving Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal. According to the Miami Beach police report and contemporary news coverage, officers were told Masvidal 'ran up to him from his left, and without notice, punched him with a closed fist two times in the face' resulting in a fractured or chipped front tooth and an abrasion to Covington’s wrist; the police narrative also reports alleged damage to a Rolex watch [4][8]. The police account quotes Masvidal as allegedly saying, "You shouldn't have been talking about my kids," during the encounter, a line reported in the police narrative and media summaries [4][5]. Video footage obtained by outlets captured aftermath scenes and a short clip of Covington speaking to police saying, "He's over here swinging, trying to come at me, and I ran," which was circulated by TMZ and referenced by Sports Illustrated and other outlets [7]. Masvidal later surrendered to police and faced initial felony charges including aggravated battery and criminal mischief, per reporting from MMA outlets and local press [4][8]. Immediate reactions included widespread media coverage, police booking footage and social-media posts from Masvidal addressing the incident publicly the next day [5][7][8].

The March 21 incident converted a promotional and sporting rivalry into a physical confrontation documented in a police report and local footage, shifting part of the dispute from sport reporting into the criminal-legal sphere. The allegation of a direct physical attack—coupled with recorded injuries and charges—made the rivalry a matter for law enforcement and the courts rather than only the Octagon and media promotion [4][8].

Following the March 21 incident, Masvidal surrendered to Miami Beach police and was booked; prosecutors initially charged him with aggravated battery and criminal mischief, as reported by local outlets and MMA media [4][8]. Covington provided a victim statement to police and media circulated brief video of Covington at the scene [7]. Masvidal publicly posted a video on social media on March 22, 2022 saying, "Call this the show-your-face challenge... You talk that s---, you gotta back it up," responding to the coverage and addressing Covington directly [8]. The criminal case later proceeded through legal channels and reached a resolution in November 2023 when Masvidal entered a plea deal; details of the plea are part of a separate incident record [6].