Covington Appears to Retire from UFC Amid Roster Removal
Colby Covington appears to have retired from MMA, with the UFC listing him as retired and roster trackers noting he is no longer part of the UFC roster.
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Welterweight
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Covington Announces Retirement, Exiting UFC After Storied Run
Former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington has informed the UFC that he is retiring from active competition. His last UFC bout came in December 2024 (a loss to Joaquin Buckley), leaving him with a 12-5 UFC record and a resume featuring wins over Masvidal, Woodley, dos Anjos and Lawler. At 38, Covington has remained active in wrestling circles, including RAF events with wins over Luke Rockhold and Dillon Danis and a May 30 bout against Chris Weidman. The piece also notes Mayra Bueno Silva and Brad Riddell have been removed from the UFC roster; Silva went winless in her last six fights, and Riddell endured a three-fight stoppage streak before withdrawing from a 2024 bout.
Prates eyes Brown’s KO crown as Makhachev looms
Carlos Prates extended his knockout streak to seven with a win over Jack Della Maddalena, tying him for fifth in UFC welterweight knockouts and positioning him to challenge Matt Brown’s all-time record. Brown, on The Fighter vs. The Writer, said he’d be honored if Prates pursued the record and praised Prates’ diverse striking. The piece notes Prates’ back-to-back KO wins over former champions and discusses Islam Makhachev as the looming obstacle at welterweight, with Brown predicting Makhachev would likely beat Garry, Prates, and Morales and urging an active title-defense schedule that could set up future matchups such as Topuria.
Cormier: Carlos Prates championship-ready after Perth performance
Daniel Cormier praised Carlos Prates after Prates dominated former welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena with a third‑round stoppage at UFC Perth, saying Prates is championship‑ready and on a short list for a welterweight title shot against Islam Makhachev. Prates has rebounded from an earlier loss to Ian Garry and continued to rack up knockouts and bonuses, but the 170‑pound division remains crowded, with Garry still favored to challenge Makhachev while Prates isn’t ruled out.
Prates' Leg Kicks Crown Perth Victory as Muhammad's Prediction Proves Correct
Belal Muhammad predicted Carlos Prates would beat Jack Della Maddalena by leveraging Prates' kicking game, and he was right as Prates used timely leg kicks and varied offense to stop Maddalena in UFC Perth. Islam Makhachev congratulated Prates, and Maddalena faces an unclear path after back-to-back losses to Makhachev and Prates.
Prates Blitzes Maddalena in Perth, Sets Sights on Makhachev Title Shot
Carlos Prates dominated Jack Della Maddalena in UFC Perth with a rapid knockout, elevating the Brazilian to a top welterweight contender and positioning him for a potential title bout with Islam Makhachev, a clash many see as a daunting challenge.
Prates storms Perth, stakes title bid with third-round KO of Della Maddalena
Carlos Prates dominated Jack Della Maddalena in Perth, finishing him in a third-round TKO to move to 7-1 since his UFC debut and laying claim to a welterweight title shot. He said he plans to fight the Makhachev–Garry winner in August, while Della Maddalena drops to 18-4 with back-to-back losses after a title defense loss to Makhachev. Prates’ heavy strikes, knees and elbows sealed the win at 3:17 of Round 3, and his emotional celebration highlighted the night.
Carlos Prates Stuns Della Maddalena to Seize Welterweight Title Shot at UFC Perth
Carlos Prates stopped Jack Della Maddalena with ground-and-pound in the UFC Perth main event, staking a claim as the next welterweight title challenger; the card also featured other notable results.
Prates Dominates Maddalena in Perth, Eyes on Title as Makhachev Signals Garry Bout
Carlos Prates delivered a flawless performance to overwhelm Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Perth, earning a likely No. 1 ranking in welterweight and setting up a potential title showdown. Islam Makhachev congratulated Prates with a playful Nutella cake jab, while buzz grows around a Makhachev–Ian Garry title clash (potentially at UFC 330 in Philadelphia); Prates has called dibs on the winner, with contenders like Michael Morales and Ilia Topuria also in the mix.
Burns bows out after KO loss to Malott in Winnipeg
Gilbert Burns’ return to the UFC ended in a third-round KO defeat to Canada’s Mike Malott in Winnipeg, prompting Burns to retire from MMA after dropping his gloves and breaking into tears. Malott earned a high-profile home win in front of the Canadian crowd, as Burns—a veteran who had a rough four-fight skid—couldn’t settle into a consistent rhythm, leading to an emotional farewell.
Benn Edges Prograis in London as Doubts Rise About Elite 147 Status
Conor Benn won a ten-round unanimous decision over Regis Prograis at a 150 lb catchweight in London, but the performance was workmanlike: Benn pressured hard and endured two cuts, failing to decisively break down the older, smaller opponent, and leaving questions about his readiness to mix with the division’s top names at 147 pounds (final scores 98-92, 98-92, 98-92).
Makhachev’s team shuts down Topuria superfight; summer welterweight title defense already lined up
Islam Makhachev’s manager says a potential champ-champ bout with Ilia Topuria never got close, as the UFC shifted toward a summer welterweight title defense while Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje for the lightweight unification is set for June 14. There was talk of stripping Topuria to crown an undisputed 170-pound champ with Gaethje vs. Arman Tsarukyan if the Topuria fight didn’t happen, and the UFC is expected to announce the actual challenger for Makhachev’s 170-pound title in mid-2026, with names like Ian Garry, Michael Morales, or Kamaru Usman floated.
London Fight Falls Short: White Rips MVP’s Return as a ‘Bad Fight’
Dana White branded Michael Page’s UFC London performance a “bad fight” after Page won a three-round decision over Sam Patterson, with Page landing 33 strikes on 61 attempts and drawing boos from the home crowd; White reportedly left the arena early. Page remains 4-1 in the UFC, with his last knockout in Bellator (2019) and a 2023 leg‑kick finish before joining UFC.
MVP's Tepid London Return Draws Booing After Unimpressive UD
Michael Page returned to the welterweight division with a lackluster unanimous decision over Sam Patterson at UFC London, a bout that drew heavy boos as the fighters combined for just 39 significant strikes and no takedowns, prompting mixed/critical reactions from peers and fans alike.
MVP Seeks More Fights in UFC as Middleweight Detour Highlights Welterweight Frustrations
Michael Page says his UFC tenure has been frustratingly quiet since late 2023, moving up to middleweight to stay active after a win over Jared Cannonier, but he’s struggled to secure welterweight bouts and has been waiting for another fight since August. He eventually fought Sam Patterson at UFC London, but Page insists he wants to return to welterweight and stay busy while his career remains active, noting the long layoff and irregular scheduling as the main issues.