Colby Covington has confirmed his retirement from UFC competition. He informed the promotion of his decision last week.
What happened?
Covington stated that his desire to focus on wrestling led to his retirement. He will compete in Real American Freestyle, meeting Chris Weidman in the co-main event.
Why it matters for Colby Covington
Covington expressed gratitude to the UFC for the opportunities he had. He wants to share the wrestling mats with notable fighters like Kamaru Usman and Khamzat Chimaev.
What comes next?
Covington said his retirement might not be permanent, leaving a 50-50 chance for a return to MMA. If he does return, it will be with the UFC.
Covington had a productive meeting with Hunter Campbell, discussing his future. He started wrestling at a young age and considers it his first true love.
The UFC allows athletes to compete in RAF while still active, but there's a policy against pairing names that could compete in the octagon. Covington wants to become a face of the RAF brand.
He trusts God's plan and will follow his journey. Covington's determination to focus on wrestling is clear, but his future in MMA remains uncertain.
Covington's retirement decision was rooted in his passion for wrestling. He's moving on to bigger and better things, but the door is open for a potential return.
The news of Covington's retirement surfaced last week. He confirmed the reporting on Wednesday, stating his desire to focus on wrestling.
Covington's UFC record stands at 12-5. He's a former interim welterweight champion, with a career record of 17-5 in MMA.
Covington will compete in RAF 09, meeting Chris Weidman in the co-main event. His focus on wrestling is clear, but his future in MMA remains to be seen.