Colby Covington leaves UFC and retires from MMA competition

Colby Covington has left the UFC and announced his retirement from mixed martial arts. The former interim welterweight champion competed for the title four times during his career, a distinction achieved by only 2.16% of fighters who have passed through the UFC roster. Covington's notable victories include wins over Tyron Woodley, Demian Maia, Robbie Lawler, Rafael dos Anjos, Dong Hyun Kim, Jorge Masvidal, and Max Griffin. His first fight against Kamaru Usman is considered a Hall of Fame-level bout. However, after leaving American Top Team and severing relationships with top coaches and training partners, Covington's performance declined in subsequent fights. While he became a temporary champion and established himself as a high-level wrestler with exceptional output, his career was marked by controversial trash talk and promotional tactics that may limit his post-fighting opportunities.