Colby Covington vowed to demonstrate his superiority over former team-mate Jorge Masvidal and the brash American delivered with a dominant performance at UFC 272. 

Covington, 34, and Masvidal, 37, entered their Sin City contest with plenty of hostility having seen their close friendship develop into a toxic rivalry in recent years.

And after months of back-and-forth on social media, Covington did his talking in the Octagon with a wrestling masterclass to defeat the popular Miami native on Saturday night. 

The 34-year-old set the tone for the night in the opening five minutes of their five-rounder in Vegas, landing a takedown early and forcing Masvidal to scramble, although Chaos was fortunate to see an eye poke go unpunished by Herb Dean. 

The former interim welterweight title holder saw a takedown opportunity slip away in the second round, after a low blow saw Dean separate the pair, but there were early signs that Covington's world class stamina would prove a challenge for Gamebred. 

Masvidal, the superior striker, struggled to fend off Covington's relentless pressure and volume. With the threat of the takedown always a possibility, Chaos was able to land consistently with the hands, testing Masvidal's durable chin.

The third round was Covington's most effective yet, landing a takedown early and keeping Masvidal pinned to the mat for the duration of the round, save for the last 10 seconds where the 37-year-old rose to his feet, much to the adulation of the Vegas crowd. 

Masvidal earnt his reputation fighting in the backyards of Miami and displayed that stubborn, never-say-die attitude in the fourth, landing a sweet right hook that dropped Covington his knee. Yet having been sapped of energy in the preceding round, Gamebred was unable to put his foot on the gas and Covington weathered the storm. 

Heading into the fifth, this one had the potential to be a barnstorming final five minutes, with both fighters putting everything on the line to earn bragging rights over the other. Covington, though, had other ideas, taking Masvidal to the ground and keeping him under his control until the final bell, much to the frustration of the masses watching on. 

It was a clean sweep across the board from the judges, who awarded the fight in Covington's favour scoring it 49-46, 50-45, 50-44 to the No 1 welterweight. 

Despite getting the better of one former American Top Team team-mate, Covington set his sights on another UFC star fighting out of Coconut Creek, Florida.

'I just took of Miami's street trash, now it's time to take on Louisiana swamp trash, where you at Dustin Poirier? You're next!' Covington exclaimed after the fight. 

For Masvidal, his UFC 272 showing was a missed opportunity, with the veteran ruing his 'off-beat' wrestling. 

'I was off beat with the wrestling. [The game plan was] to break his face. I should have had more moments like that but the wrestling was off today. [I was] flat footed today.' 

Covington entered UFC 272 off the back of a close decision defeat by Kamaru Usman late last year and there can be no doubt that the 34-year-old is the best welterweight on the planet behind the Nigerian Nightmare.

For Masvidal, it is a third defeat on the bounce and he is in need of a lift. Gamebred signed a lucrative new deal with the UFC this week and Dana White will be tasked with finding the 37-year-old an enticing, yet winnable fight next. 

Re-live Sportsmail's live coverage of UFC 272, brought to you by OLLIE LEWIS.