Colby Covington explains decision to retire from MMA and focus on RAF: ‘I’m much happier now’

Colby Covington has notified the UFC of his retirement from mixed martial arts, though the fighter clarifies he is not leaving competition entirely—he is refocusing on freestyle wrestling through Real America Freestyle (RAF). Covington explained that his formal MMA retirement was necessary paperwork to pursue a full-time wrestling career and test himself against elite grapplers like Arman Tsarukyan. Wrestling was his original sport before transitioning to the UFC, and Covington expressed contentment with the decision, stating he is "much happier now." The move allows him to explore his roots in a sport that fundamentally shaped his combat athleticism. Though Covington remains a recognizable name in MMA and could theoretically have competed for several more years, his choice to step away and pursue wrestling full-time reflects a deliberate pivot rather than a forced exit due to injury or decline.