Colby Covington Names Conor McGregor And Nate Diaz As Potential Opponents For His MMA Comeback

Colby Covington keeps the door open for another run inside the UFC Octagon.© Instagram/@rafwrestlingusa

Colby Covington hasn't closed the door on the UFC, but only the right fight will bring him back. The former interim welterweight champion named Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz as dream opponents and insisted his fighting days aren't necessarily over. He's 38 now, and he believes there is still plenty he can offer. For the moment, though, his attention is on Real American Freestyle (RAF), where he defends his cruiserweight crossover title against Khamzat Chimaev on November 14 in Abu Dhabi. That contest will headline the event at Etihad Arena.

What Covington Wants From a Return

A regular matchup against an upcoming fighter is a no for Covington, and he doesn't hide it. He wants an opponent with a name, someone who has already built a reputation in the sport.

“Without a question, if it's a big name and it's a big fight that gets me up early in the morning, then I'm going to do it.”

Money isn't what drives this, with Covington saying his career earnings and investments have left him financially comfortable. He added:

“If there's a big fight that adds to my legacy and can get me excited to get up at 6 a.m. in the morning and do some hard training, then that's what I'll come back for.”

McGregor is a name he would love to face, though Covington admitted the UFC probably wouldn't offer him that matchup. Diaz came up as well, and Covington described him as one of the established personalities who has been around the sport for years.

“Big fights only,” Covington made clear.

RAF Success Keeps Covington Active

Covington's last UFC appearance was against Joaquin Buckley in December 2024, and it ended in a stoppage loss. His professional MMA record stands at 17-5, including 12 victories in the UFC. Since then he has moved his competitive focus to RAF, where he has faced several familiar names from combat sports and remains unbeaten.

His biggest talking point is the wrestling win over Arman Tsarukyan. Covington brought it up while discussing a possible MMA return, pointing out that Tsarukyan is eight years younger than him.

“Look at Arman, he's eight years my junior. He's in my prime, he's beating everybody, and look what I did. I smashed him. He had no chance against me,”Covington said.

He also claimed he could get similar results in the UFC, as long as the promotion offered him the right opponent.

The Chimaev bout puts him in front of a very different crowd. Chimaev, a former UFC middleweight champion who is based in the UAE, is also undefeated in RAF.

The event is the first RAF show in Middle East, and it follows a five-year partnership between the promotion, Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism and the UAE Wrestling Federation.

Covington has voiced his displeasure about defending his title in Abu Dhabi. The title defence on November 14 will be his first outside the United States.