Colby Covington’s UFC Exit Plan Has Some Major Flaws

Former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington answered fan questions in a recent video on his YouTube channel. The brash and outspoken fighter was asked when he planned on going to WWE to pursue a professional wrestling career.

The question was a natural one, as Covington has attempted to create a professional wrestling-like heel persona during his time as a top contender and interim champion in the UFC. While Covington failed to become the undisputed champion, he did establish himself as a star and a needle-mover with the UFC.

“I would say probably like two years,” Covington said on his YouTube channel. “I want to really start working on my in-ring wrestling and my crowd-pleasing ability in the next year or two. Maybe I’ll go up to Orlando and go to the WWE training center. But I want to really start perfecting my craft in WWE and the wrestling moves, and hopefully, I can make a transition in the next year or two.”

Covington is now 17-5 as a pro and 12-5 in the UFC. He’s on a two-fight losing streak following a TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley in December 2024 at UFC Fight Night Tampa. On the surface, Covington’s plan sounds good, but looking a little deeper, there is reason for pause.

At 36, he’s already a bit old to be starting a professional wrestling journey. At 38, it’ll be even tougher—unless he’s just talking about making a cameo. However, based on what he mentioned in his answer, it sounds like he has more in mind.

I’ve covered WWE for 17 years for multiple publications, and I’ve been a fan for more than 40 years. I have a really good handle on identifying the kind of talent necessary for success in professional wrestling.

While Covington is brash and athletic, his personality isn’t quite as strong for wrestling as it may appear. Covington is obviously lined up to be a heel. Here’s the thing about heels in pro wrestling: they usually are the most talented performers on the mic.

The best ones have the ability to tell a story in a match with their performances, and they’re often witty and capable of improvisation. Covington often stumbles over his words in UFC press conferences and after fights. Do we really believe he’s going to be able to get through a promo with 10,000 WWE fans booing him and doing their best to throw him off his game?

Fighting is different; it’s what Covington does. He’s tough as nails and a world-class wrestler. No amount of booing is going to throw him off his game when it comes to competing in the Octagon.

Cutting a live promo and learning everything necessary in professional wrestling is a different beast, and it doesn’t sound like Covington understands what he’s signing up to do.

Ever hear someone use verbiage about a subject, and based on the words they use, you can tell they’re not all that familiar? That’s what Covington sounded like answering that question. It’s not the WWE Training Center; it’s the Performance Center.

What’s “crowd-pleasing ability?” It’s awkward phrasing likely from a lack of familiarity. There’s more to being a professional wrestler than having Hulk Hogan walk you to the Octagon and intentionally trying to make people hate you.

Covington may be set to learn that lesson the hard way.