Kamaru Usman believes Colby Covington has more to give in the world of MMA amid his former foe’s retirement.
Over the past year, Covington has expressed his gripes with the UFC brass. He wanted to compete at the Freedom 250 event, but he ultimately didn’t get a spot on the card. This miffed “Chaos,” who hadn’t been inside the Octagon since late 2024 when he was defeated by Joaquin Buckley via doctor’s stoppage.
Covington had been active under the Real American Freestyle promotion, picking up dominant wins over Luke Rockhold and Dillon Danis. While some wondered if Covington would eventually be released from his UFC contract and move on to other combat sports ventures, he has ultimately retired from pro MMA competition.
During a recent edition of the “Pound 4 Pound” podcast, Usman told Henry Cejudo that he doesn’t quite get Covington hanging up his gloves (via MMAJunkie).
“Obviously I have a long history with Colby Covington, which is a really, really deep and connecting history,” Usman said. “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.”
Usman acknowledged Covington’s unhappiness with UFC as of late, and he thinks many other fighters are feeling the same way about their situation. “The Nigerian Nightmare” also shared his belief that Covington can still be viable in pro MMA bouts. He thinks it might boil down to a disconnect between Covington and the promotion he had called home since 2014.
Do you think Colby Covington’s retirement will stick, or will he eventually make his return whether it’s with UFC or another promotion? Join in on the conversation in the comments below.