Why Colby Covington's Biggest Haters Should Root for Him to Beat Kamaru Usman at UFC 245

I know. In the moment, it will be something akin to slowly passing a kidney stone while watching the "Star Wars" prequels in line at the DMV. But hear me out.

When eminently despicable, blasphemous MAGA crank Colby Covington takes on Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight title Saturday in the main event at UFC 245 in Las Vegas, we need to bite the bullet and hope for him to win. Yes, I said it. Sorry, mom and dad. Sorry, Jesus and Vishnu and Dr. Manhattan. Because as deep as it will cut to see the wannabe adopted son of America's off-his-rocker naranja-in-chief holding the 170-pound championship, we have to focus on what it would subsequently give us:

A Covington beatdown in 2020 courtesy of Jorge Masvidal.

Oh, god. There's so, so much to unpack from this. Suffice to say that once again, the BMF is here right when we need him, and he contains multitudes.

Pick any narrative you like; the scene that would be set for a Covington-Masvidal title fight -- for both the welterweight and BMF belts! -- would be a critical mass of nuclear-powered invective with a flavor of theatrical hatred straight out of the WWF Attitude Era. Still teammates at American Top Team, Colby and Mr. Gamebred actually used to be close friends. This is a real-life Kane vs. Undertaker blood feud if there ever was one.

Cue up the damn flames.

As Colby turned heel and donned the odious red hat, these two came to hate each other's guts on a level that could make Nick Diaz and Anderson Silva look like tea-sipping bridge partners by comparison. In so many ways, this is the true dream scenario for Dana White and UFC from a marketing perspective (and the perfect insurance for if and when Conor McGregor's comeback dies faster than Liam Neeson in "Gangs of New York").

And for the sake of the hype and the heat and the guaranteed three-piece-and-a-soda ultraviolence, we should join Dana and Co. in rooting like hell for Colby vs. Jorge, too.

I understand the dangers associated with supporting *any* Covington victory, much less one that earns him a strap. The Trump family and various legions of associated racist goons would be over the moon. Democracy itself may be threatened. Usman, who is 10-0 in UFC, would see his reputation take a monstrous hit. And we can't discount the possibility that Colby doesn't go on a year-long victory tour only to bolt for WWE without facing a single title challenger, Masvidal or otherwise. (After all, he's warned us of this possibility with his own foul, objectionable mouth.)

But the risk, at the end of the day, will be worth it. If 2019 was the year of the Masvidal Renaissance, 2020 can be the one in which Gamebred goes global.

I shouldn't have to explain why we might all want that.

Most sentient human beings with an opinion about combat sports would surely adore the sight of seeing Covington get knocked out. Hell, if Marty From Nebraska does it Saturday night, I'll be among the first to stand up and cheer while looking up the words to the Nigerian national anthem, Igbo and Yoruba translations included. But for the sake of the kind of taut, crackerjack drama mixed martial arts is rather often too curated and PR-powerwashed to offer us, we have to force ourselves to play the long game, agonizing as it may be.

Colby, I... I can't believe I'm saying this, but I honestly do wish you well Saturday.

Enjoy it while you can.