The wheels are turning for a Colby Covington return to the octagon.
The polarizing UFC star is hoping to make his get his first fight of 2025 in the fourth quarter of the year. Covington (17-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC), who hasn’t fought since losing to Joaquin Buckley in December 2024, revealed he’s already in discussions with the UFC brass for his return to the octagon.
“I’ve been talking to Hunter Campbell, and we’re looking for October, November,” Covington told Helen Yee. “Maybe November in (Madison Square) Garden, but wherever Hunter decides and the UFC, I’ll be ready. If they need to push me to December in the T-Mobile (Arena), then December in Vegas sounds good. But I want to get in there as soon as possible and with a full training camp. I didn’t get a full training camp last time, so full training camp against anybody in the world: Let’s go Hunter and UFC.”
Covington wants his return to be against one of the biggest names today in the promotion, Paddy Pimblett. The two had a run in back in April at a UFC event in Miami. It didn’t get physical, but the two exchanged words and took shots at each other in the media.
“Chaos” would love to fight Pimblett and invites him to move up a weight class for the bout, as Pimblett currently fights at lightweight and Covington at welterweight. If not, Covington would like to face fellow former UFC title challenger Gilbert Burns.
“The Paddy Pimblett fight is super interesting to me,” Covington said. “In Miami, he was talking sh*t, running his mouth backstage like I wasn’t even looking at him or talking to him, and he wants to start some sh*t. He’s been saying some sh*t. He was saying in an interview the other day that his doctor said he had liver failure for cutting to 155. Dude, come up a weight class. Come up to 170. Why are you being a weight bully, Paddy? You’re a bum. You’re a gimmick. Your English accent and your little bowl cut is the only reason people know you, so let’s get it going, Paddy. If I can’t get Paddy, maybe Gilbert Burns.”
