Colby Covington has informed the UFC of his retirement, and the promotion listed him as retired on its official website. He last competed in MMA in December 2024, losing by third-round TKO to Joaquin Buckley at UFC on ESPN 63. Covington had lobbied for a spot on the UFC White House but was not included in the June 14 event. He said his relationship with the UFC had worsened and claimed fighters typically have no say in negotiations. In 2026, he has focused on wrestling with Real American Freestyle, winning earlier matches and preparing to wrestle Chris Weidman on May 30. He previously won the interim welterweight title and challenged for undisputed welterweight gold three times, losing to Kamaru Usman twice and Leon Edwards once.
"Covington won 10 of his first 11 fights in the UFC, capturing the interim welterweight strap in the process. While he was successful in the Octagon, his polarizing persona in interviews and on social media helped him garner more attention - though not all of it put him in a positive light. Still, Covington received three shots at undisputed 170-pound gold, falling to Kamaru Usman (twice) and most recently, Leon Edwards in December 2023."
Read at Sherdog
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