Colby Covington has confirmed that he has informed the UFC of his retirement from MMA competition in order to pursue wrestling full time with Real American Freestyle.
Covington is set to face Chris Weidman in the co-main event of RAF 09 in Dallas, marking his third appearance for the promotion as he pivots fully into the wrestling lane. He said the move follows internal UFC policy that avoids booking RAF wrestling matches between athletes who could potentially meet in the octagon.
"I had a good meeting with Hunter (Campbell), and we just talked about the future, and we talked about everything that's been done and all the business we've done, and it was a productive meeting," Covington said, emphasizing that the decision was his. "I wasn't let go."
Covington framed the shift as a return to his roots. "I just said that I'm very thankful with everything the UFC has allowed me to do in my life and all the blessings I've received from them, but this is the next step in my combat sports career, is to do wrestling full time, my first true love and passion. I started wrestling when I was in diapers and was a little kid. Now I can get back to doing what I love the most, and that's wrestling. This was my first love."
The former UFC interim welterweight champion added that if he ever resumes MMA competition, it will be under the UFC banner and expressed interest in wrestling opponents such as Kamaru Usman, Khamzat Chimaev, Arman Tsarukyan, and Bo Nickal in RAF.
