Colby Covington’s Chaos Shift
On June 9, 2018, Colby Covington defeated Rafael dos Anjos by unanimous decision at UFC 225 in Chicago to win the interim UFC welterweight championship. The five-round result gave his pressure-heavy wrestling style a major championship breakthrough. His later career included three undisputed title challenges before a shift toward freestyle wrestling with Real American Freestyle.
Wrestling roots and UFC rise
Colby Covington built his athletic foundation as a collegiate wrestler at Iowa Central Community College and Oregon State University. He turned professional in 2012 and joined the UFC in 2014. His high-volume wrestling and pace helped him climb the welterweight rankings, with wins over Demian Maia and Rafael dos Anjos marking major steps in his rise.
Interim champion and three title challenges
Covington defeated former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos by unanimous decision in 2018 to win the interim UFC welterweight title. He later challenged Kamaru Usman twice and Leon Edwards once for the undisputed championship. Usman stopped him in the fifth round of their first title fight in 2019. Covington lost the 2021 Usman rematch and the 2023 Edwards bout by unanimous decision. His last UFC fight came against Joaquin Buckley in December 2024; a cut led to a doctor-stoppage loss in the third round.
Covington’s outspoken persona made him one of the sport’s most discussed welterweights. The showmanship drew attention to his fights, while his wrestling pressure and conditioning remained central to his competitive style.
Retirement from MMA and RAF wrestling
In May 2026, Covington notified the UFC that he was retiring from active MMA competition and shifted his focus to Real American Freestyle (RAF), a wrestling promotion.
Covington is scheduled to wrestle Khamzat Chimaev for RAF’s Cruiserweight Crossover Championship at RAF Abu Dhabi on November 14, 2026, at Etihad Arena. The matchup keeps Covington competing in the sport that shaped his path to MMA while he weighs any future return to the cage.
Sources
- UFC: Covington wins the interim championship
- UFC: Covington fight history
- MMA Fighting: Covington notifies UFC of retirement
- Emirates News Agency: Covington–Chimaev announcement
Article Tags
Colby Covington, Rafael dos Anjos, Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards, Khamzat Chimaev, UFC, RAF, Wrestling
