Colby Covington said he remains under contract with the UFC despite shifting his attention toward Real American Freestyle wrestling, dismissing suggestions he had been released by the promotion.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, the former interim UFC welterweight champion said a recent meeting with UFC executive Hunter Campbell led to an agreement that would allow him to pursue wrestling matches against active UFC fighters without restrictions. Covington said the discussions were productive and centered on the next phase of his combat sports career.
“Yeah, so I had a good meeting with Hunter 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, as noted by Bloody Elbow. “I just said that I’m very thankful for everything that the UFC has allowed me to be able to do in my life and all the blessings that I’ve received from them. But this is the next step in my combat sports career, is to join wrestling full-time. My first true love and passion.”
Covington, who has a decorated wrestling background that includes NCAA Division I All-American honors and a junior college national title, said wrestling has always remained his primary passion. “I started wrestling when I was in diapers and I was a little kid and it was family business, to go into the wrestling world,” Covington said. “So now I can get back to doing what I love the most, which is wrestling. This is my first love.”
The 38-year-old said resolving his UFC status was necessary to secure high-profile RAF matchups against current UFC athletes. “It’s amazing what Chad Bronstein’s done with Real American Freestyle,” Covington said. “This was just the proverbial red tape that needed to be done to be able to clear up the biggest and best matches in RAF. So there’s no limitations to who I can wrestle.” Covington added that he wants wrestling matches against fighters including Arman Tsarukyan, Khamzat Chimaev and Kamaru Usman.
Covington is scheduled to face former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman at RAF 09 on May 30. He said he has not ruled out a future return to mixed martial arts and reiterated that his relationship with the UFC remains intact. “I wasn’t let go, Ariel,” Covington added. “I’m still a UFC fighter. I’ll always be a UFC fighter. If I come back to fight again, it will be in the UFC.”
Covington holds a 17-5 professional MMA record and fought three times for the undisputed UFC welterweight title, including two bouts against Usman.
