Colby Covington has boldly challenged Georges St-Pierre to a wrestling match under the Real Action Fighting (RAF) banner to determine who truly holds the top spot as the best takedown expert in the welterweight division. This challenge comes after a period of inactivity in the UFC, as Covington has not competed in the promotion since December 2024 following consecutive losses.
Known as ‘Chaos’, Covington has mostly remained out of the spotlight aside from a dispute with Bo Nickal, who recently called him out for a fight during the UFC White House event. Yet his focus now appears to be on proving his wrestling dominance, as evidenced by his public call for a wrestling contest against the legendary Georges St-Pierre.
Covington’s Return to Competition and Current Wrestling Ambitions
Although he has not fought in the UFC for several months, Colby Covington made a return to competitive action this January by taking on Luke Rockhold in an RAF event. Securing his first victory in four years seemed to prompt Covington to consider dedicating himself to wrestling for the time being.
In the lead-up to RAF06, held this upcoming Saturday, Covington addressed the media and confirmed his intentions. During this appearance, he revealed that the possibility of Georges St-Pierre attending RAF07 in Tampa is real and hinted at a potential wrestling bout between the two.
GSP might actually be in attendance at RAF07, I don’t like to give out spoilers, I don’t know if I’m supposed to be saying this, I’m sorry Chad (Bronstein) don’t kill me,
Covington remarked to MMAFighting.
He added,
“But yeah, we might have GSP in attendance at RAF07 in Tampa and he’s expressed interest, he wants to compete against me, he’s still got that competitive fire, he’s still in great shape, training hard every day.
So let’s find out who’s the number one takedown artist all-time in the welterweight division. GSP is number one, Colby Covington is number two, let’s find out who’s number one, GSP,
Covington continued.
Controversy Among Fans Over Covington’s UFC Ranking
Earlier this week, the latest UFC rankings update triggered backlash from fans. Despite Covington’s absence from competition and failure to secure a win in the UFC since 2022, he continues to be ranked within the top 15 at welterweight. More surprising to many fans was Covington’s recent move up a position in the rankings.
This decision stirred dissatisfaction among UFC followers, who question the legitimacy of maintaining high rankings for fighters who remain inactive or unrewarded by recent victories. As the conversation about Covington’s career trajectory evolves, his challenge to Georges St-Pierre introduces a new chapter that could clarify his standing among the elite takedown specialists.
Significance of the Proposed Wrestling Match
The potential wrestling showdown between Colby Covington and Georges St-Pierre represents more than just a rivalry; it offers an opportunity to conclusively determine who holds supremacy in wrestling skills within the welterweight ranks. Both fighters have established legacies in mixed martial arts, and a match on the RAF mats could satisfy long-standing debate among fans and analysts alike.
Should this event come to fruition, it would mark a notable crossover from traditional MMA fighting to a pure wrestling contest, providing an intriguing spectacle for combat sports enthusiasts. The outcome may also impact future career decisions for Covington, influencing whether he continues pursuing UFC fights or focuses more on wrestling-oriented competition.
