Covington retires from UFC but rates MMA comeback at fifty-fifty odds

Colby Covington has left the door open for a UFC return just days after notifying the promotion of his retirement, telling reporters he rates the chances of fighting in MMA again at fifty-fifty.

The former welterweight contender ended a 17-bout run with the Las Vegas-based organisation last week, a move he described as a “formality” required to free him up for the biggest bouts available in wrestling promotion Real American Freestyle. Despite earlier reports suggesting he was unhappy after missing out on a visit to the White House, Covington says he parted with the UFC on good terms.

“It’s 50-50 [if I fight MMA again],” Covington said. “I know I have a lot left in the tank. I know there’s a lot of good miles still left on the tread, but I don’t know. I can’t predict the future. Only God knows, so I trust God’s plan.”

For now, Covington’s attention is on returning to the wrestling mat. He already picked up wins over Luke Rockhold and Dillon Danis in RAF earlier this year and is next scheduled to face Chris Weidman at RAF 9 on May 30.

“This is the next step in my combat sports career — to join wrestling full-time. My first true love and passion,” Covington said. “I started wrestling when I was in diapers, and it was family business to go into the wrestling world. So now we can get back to doing what I love the most.”

Looking beyond Weidman, Covington named several UFC fighters he wants to face on the wrestling circuit, including Arman Tsarukyan, Khamzat Chimaev, and former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, with whom he has a long-standing rivalry.

“I want to wrestle ‘Marty’ Usman — we have unfinished business, we need to finish this trilogy,” he said. “But I can’t get too ahead of myself. This weekend, I have a tough competitor in front of me with Chris Weidman.”

Covington credited RAF founder Chad Bronstein for building the organisation to a point where the biggest matchups are now possible, adding that his UFC exit clears the last obstacle to pursuing them.