Colby Covington retires from UFC

UFC fighter Colby Covington has retired from mixed martial arts competition, with the promotion officially updating his status to 'retired' on its website. Covington, 38, compiled a 12-5 record in the UFC, defeating notable opponents such as Rafael dos Anjos, Robbie Lawler, Tyron Woodley, and Jorge Masvidal. He held interim welterweight gold but never won the undisputed title, losing all three of his title challenges against Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards. The UFC confirmed the change on Monday, first reported by the algorithm-based X account UFC Roster Tracker. Covington’s retirement comes despite his recent activity outside the UFC, including two wrestling matches for the Regional Athletic Federation (RAF). He is still scheduled to face Chris Weidman in a wrestling match at RAF 9 in Arlington, Texas, on May 30. Known for his controversial persona, Covington has been vocal in his political alignment with former President Donald Trump and criticized the UFC for excluding him from the upcoming UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House in June. He has not publicly commented on his retirement decision. Covington’s UFC career spanned 17 fights, with his last UFC appearance in December 2023. His retirement marks the end of a polarizing but impactful tenure in the sport.