Colby Covington keeps expanding his combat sports career following his exit from the UFC. The former interim welterweight champion just announced a new promotional signing. He shared the news directly through a video posted on his own social media. That move adds another chapter to his post Octagon career this year.
Colby Covington Hype Fighting Signing Confirmed
Covington 17-5-0 announced he signed with Hype Fighting Championship, a submission grappling promotion. He shared the news through a short video posted on his Instagram account. Covington said fans should expect further details on his opponent and timeline soon. The announcement marks his second active combat sports commitment since leaving the UFC.
He retired from UFC competition back in May after a lengthy twelve year run. That decision came after the promotion reportedly denied him a spot on a major card. Covington has remained active since then through Real American Freestyle wrestling instead. This new signing adds a third combat discipline to his current competitive schedule.
Key Details
Hype Fighting Championship has already featured several notable names from the MMA world. Fighters including Arman Tsarukyan, Muhammad Mokaev, and Deiveson Figueiredo have competed there. The promotion focuses specifically on submission grappling rather than traditional mixed martial arts competition. That format gives Covington a fresh discipline to showcase outside striking exchanges.
Covington continues staying active through his ongoing run with Real American Freestyle as well. He has already recorded wins over Luke Rockhold and Dillon Danis in that promotion. His combat sports calendar now includes commitments across multiple organizations simultaneously. That level of activity marks a clear shift from his final, injury slowed UFC stretch.
What This Means
The signing keeps Covington relevant across combat sports despite stepping away from the UFC. His polarizing personality continues driving attention regardless of which promotion he represents. That visibility likely factored into interest from multiple organizations following his retirement announcement.
No timeline has been confirmed yet for his actual Hype Fighting Championship debut. Fans will need to wait for further updates on his opponent and event date. His immediate focus still appears centered on his ongoing RAF wrestling commitments.
Covington’s willingness to compete across formats reflects a broader trend among former UFC stars. Several recognizable names have found new opportunities outside traditional MMA competition recently. That shift shows no signs of slowing down across the current combat sports landscape.
Background Context
Covington finished his UFC tenure with a record of twelve wins against five losses. He also holds a wider professional record of seventeen wins against five losses overall. His career included a run as interim welterweight champion after beating Rafael dos Anjos.
He challenged for undisputed gold three separate times but came up short on each occasion. Kamaru Usman beat him twice, while Leon Edwards handed him his final ranked title shot. His final UFC appearance came in a loss to Joaquin Buckley back in December 2024.
Conclusion
Colby Covington Hype Fighting signing adds another layer to his active post UFC career. He now competes across wrestling and submission grappling following his MMA retirement. Fans will watch closely for details on his actual competitive debut there. His combat sports journey clearly continues well beyond his UFC departure this year.
