Former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC roster and has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts, with his exclusion from a planned White House event cited as a key factor in his decision. Covington, known for his controversial persona and staunch support of President Donald Trump, was removed from the official UFC rankings last month.
Covington, 38, had been a fixture in the UFC since 2014, stepping into the Octagon 17 times. He amassed a 12-5 record within the promotion, contributing to his overall professional MMA record of 17-5. The pinnacle of his career came in 2018 when he captured the interim UFC welterweight championship by defeating Rafael dos Anjos.
A controversial career concludes
Despite his earlier successes, Covington’s recent years have been marked by a decline in performance. His last victory dates back to March 2022, a win against Jorge Masvidal. His final UFC bout, a TKO defeat to Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa, took place in December 2024, marking a four-year winless streak. Contextual notes indicate a perceived decline in his once-formidable cardio and wrestling ability compared to his opponents.
The decision to retire, as reported by Forbes, was heavily influenced by his exclusion from the “Freedom 250” card, an event slated to take place on the South Lawn of the White House. This exclusion was described as the “deal-breaker” for his retirement, underscoring the significance of his political affiliations to his professional life.
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Future outside the Octagon
Covington’s departure from the UFC roster does not signal an immediate end to his combat sports career. He is scheduled for a freestyle wrestling bout against former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman at the end of the month under the Real American Freestyle banner, a promotion where he has previously secured two victories.
Beyond wrestling, Covington has expressed interest in exploring professional wrestling with WWE, a move that aligns with the fact that UFC’s parent company, TKO, also owns WWE. There are also rumors linking him to internet celebrity Jake Paul’s MVP MMA promotion, suggesting a potential future in a different facet of combat sports.
GiveMeSport reported Covington’s removal from the UFC roster as immediate. He is not the only fighter to be removed; former women’s bantamweight Mayra Bueno Silva and lightweight competitor Brad Riddell were also recently cut from the roster.
Sources: www.givemesport.com, givemesport.com, www.forbes.com, www.valnetinc.com
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