Colby Covington Reveals Retirement Plans Amid UFC Contract Frustrations

Former UFC welterweight title contender Colby Covington (17-5) has announced his intention to conclude his mixed martial arts career within approximately the next year. The 38-year-old, known as "Chaos," has not competed in the UFC octagon since his December 2024 loss to Joaquin Buckley.

While Covington has remained active in other combat sports, including a victory over former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold at Real American Freestyle Wrestling, he indicates that MMA competition is now a secondary focus. He is scheduled to return to the wrestling mat on March 28 to face Dillon Danis at RAF07.

Covington recently spoke out about the challenging nature of UFC contracts, telling popular streamer N3on that fighters have limited influence over their careers within the promotion. He explained that UFC executive Hunter Campbell largely dictates the direction, leaving fighters with a "take it or leave it" proposition. According to Covington, refusing a fight can lead to being "iced out," where the promotion withholds future opportunities and income. "Even if it's not a good move, and you’re not getting paid what you think you deserve, it doesn’t matter. They say, ‘You either accept it and be a company man, or we’ll just ice you, and you don’t get a fight to make money,’" Covington stated, highlighting the pressure on fighters to comply.

Elaborating on his decision to step away from the sport, Covington cited long-term health concerns and the physical demands of fighting at his age. "You don’t want to take too many shots to the head when you’re later in age," he remarked. He also noted a noticeable decline in his physical recovery capabilities compared to his younger years: "My body is slowing down; my metabolism doesn’t recover like it used to. So, when I train two or three times, I don’t recover like I used to in my 20s." These factors contribute to his belief that his time competing in the UFC will conclude in the near future.