Colby Covington Announces Retirement from MMA

Colby Covington, a notoriously outspoken and polarizing figure in mixed martial arts, has decided to retire from the sport. Reports indicate that he informed the UFC of his retirement on a recent Monday, marking the end of a professional journey that began back in 2012.

Covington, who rose to prominence as the interim welterweight champion in June 2018 after defeating Rafael dos Anjos, faced various ups and downs during his career. His reign was relatively short-lived as a nasal surgery kept him from competing in a title unification bout against Tyron Woodley later that same year. He had another chance to reclaim the welterweight title when he met Kamaru Usman in December 2019. The match was intense and competitive until Usman ultimately won by TKO in the fifth round.

Once associated with American Top Team, Covington had tumultuous relationships with several fighters, including Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal, leading to his departure from the team in March 2020. His rivalry with Masvidal escalated, especially after accusations related to money for a shared coach. Covington adopted a notorious “bad guy” persona to further his career, often crossing lines that included offensive comments and mockery aimed at Masvidal and others.

In 2020, Covington fought Woodley again, winning by TKO in the fifth round. However, he fell short once more in a rematch against Usman in November 2021, this time losing by unanimous decision. Following that loss, his feud with Masvidal became even more bitter, culminating in a five-round match in March 2022. Covington decisively defeated Masvidal in what many regarded as a significant blow to his rival’s career.

Covington was set to face Leon Edwards in December 2023 for a final shot at the title, but this match ended in another unanimous decision loss. Unbeknownst to him, this would turn out to be his last fight, during which he sustained a deep cut above his left eye before ultimately losing to Joaquin Buckley.