Kamaru Usman isn’t convinced Colby Covington’s move to retire from MMA tells the full story.
Covington’s status on the UFC’s official website was recently changed from active to retired after he reportedly notified the promotion of his decision. He has not fought in the UFC since a doctor stoppage TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley in December 2024.
Henry Cejudo has suggested Covington’s disappointment at not being included on the UFC Freedom 250 card at the White House on June 14 played a part in the decision, but Usman pushed back on that idea. “I don't know if it's necessarily as deep as saying he's (doing it) out of spite because of the White House card, I don't think it's necessarily that deep,” Usman said.
Usman instead pointed to other factors. “Honestly, the activity is much less, and he has expressed his willingness to want to get in there, to want to fight and be compensated the way he feels that is necessary.” He added, “There's a lot of unhappiness, disgruntlement from not just Covington, but quite a few different athletes. But Covington hasn't been getting that frequency of activity – and not that he can't compete, because we do know he can compete because he is competing at RAF, and he's doing pretty well. There's some type of disconnect between Covington and the UFC, and why they can't get him in there or why isn't he getting fights that he wants or just fights period.”
“Obviously I have a long history with Colby Covington, which is a really, really deep and connecting history,” Usman said, noting he still doesn’t fully understand the retirement: “So, for him, I don't understand why (he retired), because let's be honest: Any fight Covington is going to be in is going to be a fight that you want to keep your eye on, because either you like him or either you hate him, you want to see this guy.”
