Did Colby Covington quietly retire from MMA?
It’s been a very long time since we’ve heard something from the previous interim champion. Hell, it’s been a very long time since we’ve heard Dana White mutter his title, main some to suspect that ‘Chaos’ has already laid down his gloves and walked away from the combat recreation.
“Colby used to do common hits on Submission Radio. … However through the years, he’s sort of decreased his interviews,” MMA journalist James Lynch mentioned in video vis his YouTube channel. “On this interview, which he did in August, you may learn the title right here. He’s speaking about at a celeb poker tour, Colby Covington spoke to Helen Yee about poker, when he expects to return, eager to combat Paddy Pimblett or Gilbert Burns. Paddy Pimblett’s a light-weight. Gilbert Burns has misplaced his final 4 fights. These are usually not severe call-outs. …
“I believe, and one thing I’ll speak about on this video and I’ve talked about on my stay streams, too: I believe Colby’s retired. I don’t know why he hasn’t come out and mentioned it. I don’t know what the reason being.”
After all, Covington has by no means been accused of being an particularly lively fighter, however he would typically make his presence felt with interviews and on-line content material. However ever since his brutal loss towards Joaquin Buckley late final 12 months, it’s been radio silence from the Covington camp.
“Even when Colby was inactive over the past couple years, Dana White would a minimum of deliver up him by way of issues falling aside … We’re not even listening to the UFC or Dana White or anybody point out Colby in any respect,” Lynch added. “Colby’s simply sort of quietly gone away. And what’s fascinating is on the time of recording this, Colby Covington continues to be ranked quantity 11 within the division, however he hasn’t fought, and there’s been no indication that he’s coming again and going to combat anytime quickly.”
Outdoors of the UFC, Covington has established himself as fairly the poker participant. Based on Hendon Mob Poker Database, ‘Chaos’ has banked greater than $360,000 in winnings from enjoying playing cards.
Covington has additionally appeared on the Celeb Poker Tour, the place he got into a hilarious back-and-forth with Henry Cejudo earlier than an occasion.
“My understanding proper now from simply what I’ve seen and who I’ve talked to kind of within the trade is that Colby’s sort of simply doing this poker factor, and I don’t suppose there’s any severe talks about him combating,” Lynch mentioned. “However my massive query is why has he not come out and retired? He’s sort of simply slowly drifted away. … And I ponder if we’re going to get an announcement right here fairly quickly. … There’s no indicators of him combating or coming again.”
Covington went 12-5 below the UFC banner, along with his most notable victories coming towards Rafael dos Anjos, Robbie Lawler, Tyron Woodley, and Jorge Masvidal. In newer years, ‘Chaos’ has struggled to search out the win column, going 2-4 in his final six, together with back-to-back losses towards Leon Edwards and the aforementioned Joaquin Buckley.
