Colby Covington Bio
Colby Ray Covington (born February 22, 1988) is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is a former Interim UFC Welterweight Champion and, as of November 18, 2025, is ranked #13 in the UFC welterweight rankings. Known by the ring name “Chaos,” Covington has built a polarizing reputation through his wrestling-heavy style and aggressive pre-fight trash talk.
A southpaw fighter with a strong grappling base, Covington trains out of MMA Masters in Miami, Florida, after parting ways with American Top Team in 2020. He holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has leveraged his NCAA Division I wrestling pedigree to become one of the most recognizable figures in the welterweight division.
Early Life and Background
Colby Ray Covington was born in Clovis, California, on February 22, 1988. When he was eight years old, his family moved from California to Oregon, where he would spend the rest of his formative years. Covington grew up around athletics, as his father had wrestled during his time at the Oregon Institute of Technology and Southern Oregon University, helping spark Colby’s early interest in the sport.
Covington attended Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon, where he lettered all four years in wrestling. As a senior in 2006, he captured the 171 lb state championship, establishing himself as one of the top high school wrestlers in the state. After high school, he committed to Arizona State University, but his test scores fell short of the requirements, which forced him to consider an alternative path.
He instead enrolled at Iowa Central Community College, where he won the 2007 165 lb national junior college wrestling title as a true freshman, posting a perfect 34–0 record. His roommate during that championship season was Jon Jones, who would later become a UFC champion. Covington later transferred to the University of Iowa before settling at Oregon State University, where he earned All-American honors and was a two-time Pac-10 Conference champion at 174 pounds. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 2011. After college, he won a gold medal at the 2013 FILA Grappling no-gi world championships.
Path to MMA
Following his collegiate wrestling career in 2011, Covington was recruited by Dan Lambert to American Top Team to help strengthen the gym’s wrestling talent base. He quickly transitioned into professional mixed martial arts, compiling an unblemished 5–0 record before signing with the UFC in the summer of 2014. His NCAA pedigree and grappling credentials gave him a clear entry point into the sport’s biggest stage.
Covington’s development years at American Top Team sharpened his ground game and cardio, two traits that would become hallmarks of his fighting style. Working alongside elite coaches and training partners, he refined his chain wrestling and relentless pressure, setting the foundation for a career built on grinding opponents down over five rounds.
Colby Covington Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
Covington made his UFC debut on August 23, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 48, defeating Anying Wang by TKO via punches in the closing seconds of the first round. He followed that with a third-round submission win over Wagner Silva at UFC Fight Night 56 in November 2014 and a unanimous decision victory over Mike Pyle at UFC 187 in May 2015.
His first UFC setback came on December 12, 2015, at UFC 194, when Warlley Alves submitted him in the first round. Covington bounced back with submission and TKO wins over Jonathan Meunier and Max Griffin in 2016, then capped his early run with a unanimous decision over Bryan Barberena at UFC on Fox 22.
UFC Breakthrough (2017–2019)
In 2017, Covington put together a series of unanimous decision wins over Dong Hyun Kim and Demian Maia, the latter coming at UFC Fight Night 119 in São Paulo. The Maia victory doubled as a contract-saving performance, as Covington later revealed the UFC had threatened to release him before the bout. His post-fight comments in Brazil marked the emergence of his “super villain” persona.
On June 9, 2018, at UFC 225, Covington defeated Rafael dos Anjos via unanimous decision to capture the Interim UFC Welterweight Championship. He was later stripped of the interim title after nasal surgery forced him out of a planned unification bout with Tyron Woodley at UFC 228. He presented the belt to President Donald Trump at the White House on August 2, 2018.
Covington returned on August 3, 2019, in the main event of UFC on ESPN 5, dismantling Robbie Lawler with a lopsided unanimous decision. In the process, he set a UFC record with 541 strikes thrown, a mark later surpassed by Max Holloway. On December 14, 2019, at UFC 245, he challenged Kamaru Usman for the undisputed welterweight title and was finished by TKO in the fifth round in a Fight of the Night performance.
MMA Masters Era (2020–Present)
After a public falling out with American Top Team, Covington parted ways with the gym in May 2020 and relocated his training base to MMA Masters in Miami, Florida. He made an immediate impact in his new environment, dominating Tyron Woodley in the main event of UFC Fight Night 178 on September 19, 2020, earning a fifth-round TKO victory when Woodley suffered a rib injury.
On November 6, 2021, at UFC 268, Covington rematched Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title and lost a close unanimous decision. He then handed Jorge Masvidal a one-sided unanimous decision loss in the main event of UFC 272 on March 5, 2022, earning another Fight of the Night bonus. After sitting out nearly two years, he returned to challenge Leon Edwards for the welterweight crown at UFC 296 on December 16, 2023, breaking his foot in the opening minute and losing by unanimous decision. His most recent appearance came on December 14, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 63, where he lost to Joaquin Buckley by TKO doctor stoppage due to a cut.
Driving Style and Strengths
Wait — Covington is an MMA fighter, not a driver. His fighting style is built on relentless wrestling, top control, and ground-and-pound. He fights out of a southpaw stance and chains takedown attempts together to wear opponents down, relying on elite cardio to maintain a grueling pace across five rounds.
Notable Events and Milestones
Covington’s most notable milestones include capturing the Interim UFC Welterweight Championship at UFC 225, setting the UFC single-fight strike attempt record with 541 strikes against Robbie Lawler, and earning multiple Fight of the Night bonuses across bouts with Usman and Masvidal. He also achieved grappling success off the mat, winning a gold medal at the 2013 FILA Grappling no-gi world championships.
Colby Covington Career Wins
Colby Covington’s professional record reflects a well-rounded finishing rate combined with a high-volume decision game. Across his verified career, he has secured wins by knockout, submission, and decision, with his grappling-heavy approach producing consistent results against top-tier opposition.
UFC Highlights
Within the UFC, Covington has notched signature wins over Rafael dos Anjos, Robbie Lawler, Tyron Woodley, Jorge Masvidal, Dong Hyun Kim, Demian Maia, and Bryan Barberena. His first UFC win came by TKO over Anying Wang in August 2014, while his most recent UFC victory was the dominant decision over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272 in March 2022.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Covington went 5–0 as a professional before signing with the promotion. He also captured a gold medal at the 2013 FILA Grappling no-gi world championships and earned All-American honors as a senior at Oregon State University.
| Division | Wins | Losses | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UFC Welterweight | Multiple verified | Multiple verified | Former Interim UFC Welterweight Champion |
Colby Covington Family
Family Background and Wrestling Lineage
Covington’s father was a wrestler during his time at the Oregon Institute of Technology and Southern Oregon University, providing Colby with an early athletic foundation. The family’s move from California to Oregon when he was eight years old helped cement his path toward competitive wrestling in the Pacific Northwest.
Personal Life
Covington is a resident of Miami, Florida, where he trains at MMA Masters. He is known for his outspoken political views, including his support of the Republican Party and President Donald Trump, and has frequently referenced his political allies in post-fight interviews and public appearances.
2025 Season Performance
Coming off a TKO doctor stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley at UFC on ESPN 63 in December 2024, Colby Covington entered 2025 looking to re-establish himself in the welterweight title picture. As of November 18, 2025, he holds the #13 spot in the UFC welterweight rankings, putting him on the periphery of contention.
Covington’s 2025 storyline has centered on staying active and reminding the division of his relentless pace and wrestling base. Operating out of MMA Masters in Miami, he has continued to leverage his trademark cardio and chain wrestling, the same tools that carried him to the Interim UFC Welterweight Championship and into multiple title fights.
With several ranked opponents ahead of him and the welterweight title picture constantly shifting, Covington’s outlook for the remainder of 2025 hinges on stringing together wins to climb back toward the top of the rankings. A late push could put him in line for another high-profile bout and another shot at championship gold.