Colby Covington's UFC Retirement

Colby Covington has revealed that he has retired from the UFC, closing out a twelve-year run with the promotion that included an interim welterweight title.

Covington secured wins over some of the division's most recognised names, as the 38-year-old will now focus his energy on the Real American Freestyle wrestling circuit. He has already beaten Luke Rockhold and Dillon Danis in RAF and is scheduled to face Chris Weidman on May 30.

Covington finishes with a 17-5 professional record and 12-5 inside the UFC. His career peak came during a stretch that saw him become interim welterweight champion and challenge for the undisputed title on two occasions, losing both to Kamaru Usman. The wins over Masvidal, Woodley, dos Anjos, and Lawler represent a legitimate resume.

His final UFC appearance came in December 2024, when Joaquin Buckley stopped him in the third round. The retirement is unexpected only in the sense that Covington had given no public indication he was considering it. However, Colby was frustrated by not being named on the White House card.

Covington’s Mindset

"My relationship with the UFC is always going to be good in my book, because they've changed my life. They've made me a self-made multi-millionaire. I came from nothing. Now I can take care of my parents' houses, pay their cars and do things that never would have been possible without the UFC. So I'm always going to be grateful for the UFC.

"When I spoke out the other day, [it] was just a little frustration. I thought that I would have been rewarded with the White House fight. I said, 'Hey, Hunter, I'll fight anybody on God's green Earth. You want to put me against Jon Jones at heavyweight? Let's do it. It sells. We're former roommates. Let's do it,” Covington stated