Colby Covington retires from UFC, ends three-title-challenger career
The 38-year-old informed the UFC on Monday of his retirement, following a December 2024 loss to Joaquin Buckley. He is scheduled to face Chris Weidman in the RAF organisation on May 30.
Colby Covington has officially retired from the Ultimate Fighting Championship, bringing an end to a career defined by high-profile title challenges and a polarising public persona. The 38-year-old former interim welterweight champion informed the organisation on Monday, with the UFC’s official website updating his fighter page to reflect the change. MMA Fighting confirmed the update was accurate, noting the retirement label was not an error.
Covington’s departure follows a third-round TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa in December 2024. The defeat, which came via doctor’s stoppage, extended a two-fight skid that included a unanimous decision loss to Leon Edwards during Covington’s third attempt at an undisputed UFC title. His final record in the UFC stands at 17 wins and 5 losses.
Alongside Covington, the UFC roster page was updated to remove other fighters, including one-time women’s bantamweight title challenger Mayra Bueno Silva, Brad Riddell, and Nathan Fletcher. The simultaneous removal of these athletes suggests a broader administrative update to the organisation’s active roster.
Prior to the announcement, Covington had expressed interest in competing at the UFC White House event scheduled for June 14. There had been speculation regarding a potential matchup against middleweight prospect Bo Nickal. However, Nickal claimed Covington declined the bout, and the prospect will instead face Kyle Daukaus on the Washington, D.C. card.
Covington has since returned to the upstart wrestling organisation RAF, where he has recorded mat victories over former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold and Dillon Danis. He is scheduled to compete against Chris Weidman on May 30 at RAF 9.
Known for his brash, pro-wrestling-style approach, Covington built a notable resume with wins over former champions Rafael dos Anjos, Tyron Woodley, and Robbie Lawler. His rivalry with Kamaru Usman, despite resulting in losses in both title fights, is widely regarded as one of the division’s most significant of the past decade.
