{"id":40366,"date":"2026-09-08T05:50:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T05:50:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sherdog.com\/news\/news\/Colby-Covington-says-hes-not-fully-retired-names-condition-for-UFC-return-202709"},"modified":"2026-09-08T05:50:05","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T05:50:05","slug":"colby-covington-says-hes-not-fully-retired-names-condition-for-ufc-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.martialartskleinanzeigen.com\/videos\/colby-covington-says-hes-not-fully-retired-names-condition-for-ufc-return\/","title":{"rendered":"Colby Covington says he\u2019s not fully retired, names condition for UFC return"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/div>\n

Colby
\nCovington<\/a> isn\u2019t closing the door on an
\nUltimate Fighting Championship<\/a> return.<\/p>\n

The former UFC title challenger exited the promotion after his
\ndefeat to Joaquin
\nBuckley<\/a> in 2024. He now says the decision was taken so he could
\npursue opportunities outside the UFC in wrestling, but remains open
\nto returning to mixed martial arts.<\/p>\n

\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Colby Covington says big UFC fights could bring him back to
\nMMA<\/h2>\n

Covington is 4-0 under the Real American Freestyle banner and
\nrecently captured the promotion’s inaugural cruiserweight crossover
\nchampionship with a victory over Arman
\nTsarukyan<\/a>. In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, he said an
\nMMA return is possible after previously disagreeing with the UFC on
\ncertain matchups and his omission from
\nUFC Freedom 250<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m technically retired, technically, but that was just the red
\nproverbial tape I needed to get by so I could get the biggest
\nmatchups in RAF,\u201d Covington said. \u201cEverybody knows my first love
\nand passion was always wrestling. I wasn’t getting any fights in
\nthe UFC. They weren’t really offering me the fights that I want. I
\ndidn’t get on the White House card. I wouldn’t say I’m fully
\nretired. I would just say that we’re on a temporary break as I
\npursue my interest and first love and passion for wrestling at the
\nRAF.\u201d<\/p>\n

Irrespective of whether an Octagon return comes to fruition,
\nCovington is content with his career and accomplishments. \u201cChaos\u201d
\nadded that unless he\u2019s involved in big fights, returning to MMA
\ndoesn\u2019t appeal to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, how could I not be at peace? I reached the mountaintop,\u201d
\nCovington added. \u201cNot a lot of people are ever going to win a world
\ntitle in the UFC. I reached the mountaintop. I did it all. At what
\npoint do you need to walk away? I’m willing to entertain big and
\nhuge offers from the UFC and big fights. But if not, you know, it’s
\nOK. I’m at peace.\u201d<\/p>\n