Colby Covington clarified that his May retirement announcement was primarily a procedural step to allow him to compete in Real American Freestyle wrestling, where he holds the inaugural RAF Cruiserweight Crossover Championship. Covington told MMA Junkie he remains open to returning to the UFC if the right matchup is offered, citing a lack of appealing fights — including missing out on a spot at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House in June — as the reason he stepped away. He stressed that wrestling has always been his first passion, but has not closed the door on the octagon.
Colby Covington is pushing back on the idea that his fighting career is finished, making clear that the door to the UFC remains open despite a retirement announcement he made earlier this year.
Covington, speaking to MMA Junkie, explained that his May retirement declaration was largely a procedural move designed to allow him to compete in Real American Freestyle wrestling. He has since captured the inaugural RAF Cruiserweight Crossover Championship in that organization. The 38-year-old American said he stepped away from mixed martial arts primarily because no appealing matchups were on the table, pointing specifically to missing out on a spot at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House in June as a source of frustration. He stressed that wrestling has always been his first love, but stopped well short of closing the door on an octagon return.
The welterweight contender carries a professional record of 17 wins and 5 losses and has long been one of the division's most polarizing and active competitors. Training out of MMA Masters, the six-foot-one orthodox fighter brings a 72-inch reach and a grinding, pressure-heavy style built around volume striking and relentless wrestling. He averages 3.81 significant strikes per minute and 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes — numbers that reflect a fighter who imposes his will through sheer pace and physicality.
Why it matters
- Covington's availability, conditional as it is, keeps one of welterweight's most credible names in play for potential high-profile matchups.
- His stated frustration over fight selection suggests he would need a marquee or title-adjacent bout to commit to a full return.
- A fighter with his wrestling credentials and volume output would represent a significant threat to virtually anyone in the 170-pound division.
- The crossover into professional wrestling competition adds an unusual dimension to his status and complicates any straightforward return timeline.
