Colby Covington turns his focus to a UFC rival after fallout with Dana White & Co. and Donald Trump, seeking redemption in the cage.

Colby Covington Diverts Focus From UFC After Fallout With Hunter Campbell, Donald Trump

 Sorry, UFC! Colby Covington has found a new home. The former UFC interim champion now struggles in a strained relationship with the UFC, where things no longer operate as they once did. The reason? UFC official Hunter Campbell made hollow “promises” to Covington, which the promotion ultimately failed to keep. At 38, Covington faces a critical juncture in his career. More than 450 days have passed since he last stepped into the Octagon, and during that time, the UFC has not scheduled any fights for him. As a result, this inactivity has naturally strained his relationship with the promotion even further. However, Colby Covington has now shifted his focus to a new chapter with the RAF promotion. After recently defeating Dillon Danis at RAF, Covington made it clear that he will fully commit to building his career with the organization. COLBY COVINGTON SHIFTS FOCUS TO FREESTYLE WRESTLING AFTER UFC FALLOUT In a recent candid interview posted on X by Red Corner MMA, the host asked Covington whether fans could expect him back in the UFC or if he would continue competing in RAF events. ‘Chaos’ clarified that he no longer waits on the UFC or any fighter and is, therefore, dedicating himself entirely to freestyle wrestling. He has also invested in the RAF promotion. “Yeah, I’m all in on Real American Freestyle, man,” Colby Covington said. “I’ve invested my own hard-earned money into Real American Freestyle. I want to see this platform grow into the greatest combat sports league in the world. So I’m all in on Real American Freestyle. My first passion was wrestling, so I’m gonna get back to my roots. I did everything I needed to do in the UFC. I won a world championship, you know. So yeah, I’m all in on Real American Freestyle, and you’re gonna see me very active here, wrestling,” Covington added. Colby Covington built a UFC career full of highs and lows, but it remains noteworthy since he held the UFC interim welterweight title. However, Kamaru Usman derailed his aspirations at UFC 245 in 2019, putting ‘Chaos’ to sleep in the 5th round and ending his seven-fight win streak. Since that defeat, Covington never fully bounced back, and he has recorded only two wins and three losses, with his most recent loss coming against Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa in December 2024. Covington’s frustration goes beyond inactivity. In addition, the UFC excluded him from the upcoming UFC White House event, billed as Freedom 250, scheduled on Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. Previously, the MMA world expected Colby Covington [https://www.essentiallysports.com/ufc-mma-news-bo-nickal-debunks-colby-covingtons-claims-about-never-getting-a-ufc-white-house-spot/] to appear on the card because of his strong support for Trump. For years, Covington actively supported Trump and even campaigned for him during the last U.S. election, pausing his fighting career in the process. During that time, he wore a MAGA hat, stood beside Trump, and even once displayed his admiration by wearing a locket with Trump’s image, which he kissed while entering a press conference. Yet, when he needed Trump’s backing most to push Dana White and the UFC to secure his spot on the card, Trump did not come through [https://www.essentiallysports.com/ufc-mma-news-donald-trump-supporter-colby-covington-gives-up-dirty-politics-as-loyalty-goes-unrewarded/]. As a result, Covington now regrets joining Trump’s campaign. “I was in all these swing states trying to win the election for America,” he told Bloody Elbow. “My focus wasn’t on the UFC… I wasn’t training, and it was honestly career suicide for me to go fight at that time, but I [thought] he was such a bum and couldn’t do anything to me even with no training camp,” he added. “It sucks I didn’t get rewarded. I thought loyalty would be rewarded. The UFC didn’t care.” Now, the UFC veteran has left the past behind and already racked up a 2-0 record in RAF, with more fights scheduled. Similarly, fellow UFC star Arman Tsarukyan has diverted his attention to wrestling and grappling matches outside the UFC as he awaits a lightweight title shot. To keep himself relevant, he is trying to focus on his activity outside the UFC. Last night, Tsarukyan fought on the RAF card and defeated Georgio Poullas in their rematch. As for Colby Covington, he recently clarified his plans for politics and confirmed that he will fully focus on competing in the cage. COVINGTON HAS PUT A FULL STOP TO HIS POLITICAL AMBITIONS Colby Covington spent the last few glorious years outside the cage, fully immersing himself in politics. As a dedicated Republican supporter [https://www.essentiallysports.com/ufc-mma-news-trump-2024-ufcs-colby-covington-backs-donald-trump-to-make-america-great-again/], he actively pushed Donald Trump and the MAGA campaign to the highest office. By November 2024, his efforts succeeded when Trump returned to the White House for a second term after navigating legal battles. In return, ‘Chaos’ earned the title of Trump’s “favorite fighter.” Back in 2018, he even made history as the first person to bring a UFC belt to the Oval Office. However, Colby Covington kept his ultimate goal in sight: to become governor one day. After losing his spot on the White House card, he quickly shifted his focus back to fighting. “I love Trump, he’s a great guy, but I’m not really political,” Colby Covington explained. “In the future, you won’t see me campaigning or actively involved in politics. I don’t want to be a part of it anymore. It’s a dirty game, and loyalty is never rewarded. “My dream before was to be the governor of Florida, a senator, a congressman… Now, it’s like ‘nah… I just want to do business with Real American Beer, be in RAF Wrestling, and mind my own business in peace.’” So, what’s your take on Colby Covington’s political journey with Donald Trump? Do you think he quit politics too early? Share your thoughts below. 

Ashvinkumar Patil is an MMA Editor at EssentiallySports, recognized for his data-driven and context-focused coverage. With over four years of experience in digital sports media, he has held newsroom and leadership roles that have sharpened his ability to deliver timely, accurate, and reader-centric stories.

Before joining EssentiallySports, he built a strong foundation in sports journalism and entrepreneurship, which included founding a dedicated professional wrestling and mixed martial arts platform. This background provides him with sharp editorial judgment and a deep understanding of audience engagement.

With his passion for storytelling, Ashvinkumar brings a fresh narrative approach to MMA coverage. He specializes in fight breakdowns, trend analysis, and in-depth reporting that connects with today’s global combat sports community.

Ashvinkumar Nilkanth Patil

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