LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 16: Colby Covington of the United States looks on before a welterweight title fight against Leon Edwards of England during UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington at T-Mobile Arena on December 16, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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Colby Covington has decided to retire from the sport of mixed martial arts and the UFC has removed him from the active roster. There are a few reasons for Covington’s retirement, but a recent bounce from the UFC Freedom 250 card appears to be the main reason.
Key facts at a glance
- Fighter: Colby “Chaos” Covington
- Age: 38
- UFC Octagon Record: 12-5 in 17 appearances
- Overall Pro MMA Record: 17-5
- Last UFC win: Jorge Masvidal, March 2022
- Last UFC appearance: Defeated by TKO by Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa, December 14, 2024
- Career highlights: Interim welterweight champion, 2018
- Next booking: Chris Weidman, Real American Freestyle, May 30, 2026
Why did Colby Covington retire from the UFC?
It’s not a secret. Covington wanted to fight on the Freedom 250 card. He is an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump and fighting on the card would be an honor for the 38-year-old. That said, he is 38 years old. Covington hasn’t won a fight in four years, and in his most recent losses, he’s looked like a shadow of the cardio and wrestling machine that saw him become the interim champion at 170 pounds in 2018.
The UFC was already defunct Covington from the official welterweight rankings in April, a clear signal that the promotion’s plans no longer included him. Skipping Freedom 250 just put the public stamp on an already strained relationship between fighter and promotion.
What was Colby Covington’s UFC record?
Covington’s overall record in MMA is 17-5 with a 12-5 mark in the UFC. His last Octagon appearance came against Joaquin Buckley in the main event of December 14, 2024 at UFC Tampa, which ended in a third-round doctor-stoppage TKO.
His last raised hand inside the Octagon came back Jorge Masvidal in March 2022. That four-plus year drought, combined with Buckley’s loss, painted a clear picture of a fighter whose competitive window had closed.
What has Colby Covington accomplished in the UFC?
In addition to being the interim champion, Covington reinvented himself as a controversial, trash-talking figure. Covington’s persona has landed him in this polarizing space that can be money for fighters who know how to navigate it. However, Covington always seemed to lack the same level of stardom as Conor McGregor or even current middleweight champion Sean Strickland.
He won the interim welterweight title in 2018 Rafael dos Anjos it was the pinnacle of his competitive resume and his two-fight rivalry Kamaru Usman He produced one of the best fights of 2019 at UFC 245. He also has wins over Robbie Lawler, Tyron Woodley and Demian Maia, with a total of three knockouts in undisputed welterweight gold.
What’s next for Colby Covington after retiring from the UFC?
Covington has already won two straight wrestling matches at Real American Freestyle. It has a future there. Covington has also expressed interest in trying his hand at WWE.
His next booking is a wrestling match against the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman on May 30, 2026 at RAF, where he already has wins over Luke Rockhold and Dillon Danis. There has also been speculation that he could show up to Jake Paul’s MVP MVP at some point if he wants the cage back.
