Full Breakdown
Colby Covington Retires from UFC: End of a Decade-Long Welterweight Run
5/19/2026, 6:24:05 AM
Roster Update Confirms Retirement
On Monday, UFC officials changed Covington’s status from “active” to “retired” on the promotion’s website, a change first flagged by the UFC Roster Tracker X account and later confirmed by the organization. He was removed from the active roster alongside Mayra Bueno Silva, Brad Riddell and Nathan Fletcher.
Career Overview and Recent Inactivity
Covington entered the UFC in 2014, won the interim welterweight title in 2018 over Rafael dos Anjos, and recorded wins over Masvidal, Woodley and Lawler. He lost three title fights to Kamaru Usman (twice) and Leon Edwards, never capturing the undisputed belt. His final MMA bout was a December 2024 TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley; he has since fought only in the RAF wrestling circuit.
Timeline of Key Milestones
- 2014 – UFC debut.
- 2018 – Defeated Rafael dos Anjos for interim welterweight title.
- 2019 – Lost first title fight to Kamaru Usman (UFC 245).
- March 2022 – Defeated Jorge Masvidal.
- Dec 2024 – TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley (final UFC fight).
- April 2026 – Dropped from UFC top-15 rankings.
- May 2026 – UFC lists him as retired and removes him from roster.
- May 30 2026 – Scheduled RAF wrestling match vs. Chris Weidman in Arlington, Texas.
Record and Rankings Data
Covington finished his UFC tenure with a 12-5 record across 17 fights, including five wins over former champions or top-10 opponents. He held the interim belt for eight months in 2018 and remained in the welterweight top-15 until April 2026.
Official Statements & Responses
UFC officials confirmed the roster change, noting the fighter’s profile now reads “retired.” Covington has not issued any public comment on the decision.
Criticism and Frustration
Covington recently voiced displeasure with fight offers and criticized his exclusion from the UFC Freedom 250 White House event, a concern highlighted by his pro-Trump persona.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources list Covington’s age as either 38 or 36, and no explicit reason for his retirement has been provided by either the fighter or the UFC.
Verbatim Quotes
- “A polarizing figure for his antics on the microphone, Covington was one of the first MMA fighters to loudly align himself with President Donald Trump and fully leaning into a MAGA persona.” — MMA Junkie, staff writer
- “He also took exception with his omission from the upcoming UFC Freedom 250 event on June 14 at the White House in Washington.” — ClutchPoints, staff writer
- “Covington has not commented publicly on his retirement.” — MMA Junkie, staff writer
- “The move comes after Covington was taken out of the UFC rankings in April, ending a run that had kept him in the top-15 until last month.” — Mogazmasr, staff writer
What’s Next
Covington will appear in the RAF wrestling promotion on May 30, 2026, facing former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman in Arlington, Texas, indicating his competitive focus has shifted away from mixed-martial-arts.
