Islam Makhachev Gets A $100,000 Charity Padel Challenge From Colby Covington

Colby Covington offers Islam Makhachev a $100,000 charity padel challenge.© NDTV Library

Colby Covington has put $100,000 on the table for Islam Makhachev, and the two UFC stars won't need the Octagon to settle it. The former interim welterweight champion wants a game of padel, with each fighter allowed to bring a professional player as his partner. He made the offer in a recent interview, calling out the reigning UFC welterweight champion directly. The money would be donated to charity, so neither man would pocket it as a prize. It's a pretty unusual way to start a challenge between two fighters, and Covington says he's serious about it.

Colby Covington challenges Islam Makhachev to a $100,000 padel match for charity, with each man choosing a professional partner. ???????? “Islam loves to play padel. He's been playing a lot of padel. So I want to make this offer to Islam today on Submission Radio: $100,000 matchup, padel, me versus you, Islam. You get your partner, whatever pro you want in the world. I'll get a pro. $100,000 donated to charity, right here on Submission Radio.” Via: @SubmissionRadio

— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) November 2, 2026

How Colby Covington came up with the $100,000 padel challenge for Islam Makhachev

The offer is built around Makhachev's growing interest in padel. The Russian champion has been posting clips of himself playing the racket sport in recent months, and that gave Covington something to work with outside their usual combat sports rivalry. 

Padel is usually played in doubles on an enclosed court with walls, so the partner each man picks matters a lot. Covington spelled out the terms himself.

“Islam loves to play padel. He's been playing a lot of padel. So I want to make this offer to Islam today on Submission Radio. $100,000 matchup, padel, me versus you, Islam. You get your partner, whatever pro you want in the world. I'll get a pro. $100,000 donated to charity, right here on Submission Radio.”

That setup lets both men choose a professional padel player, so neither would be stuck facing a pro pairing with an inexperienced partner. Covington didn't name who he'd pick. 

He isn't new to charity padel either, since he was among the names listed as co-hosts for Padel for a Purpose, a tournament in East Hampton in August 2025 that benefited children and animals.

Covington has a Khamzat Chimaev title defense ahead while Makhachev plans his next UFC fight

Neither man has an empty calendar, though. Covington has a fight to get through before any padel match could happen, and he's set to defend his RAF cruiserweight crossover championship against Khamzat Chimaev at RAF Abu Dhabi on November 14 at Etihad Arena. 

He picked up title with a win over Arman Tsarukyan at RAF 11, and he most recently beat Belal Muhammad by technical fall at RAF 13 in September.

Makhachev's schedule is a little different than that, since it sits inside the UFC. He recently confirmed that his next fight could be among his final appearances in the sport.

“My next fight is one of the last in my career,” Makhachev wrote.

The champion wants to face the winner of Carlos Prates vs. Michael Morales, who are scheduled to compete for the interim welterweight title at UFC 336 on January 30, 2027. 

His next title defense is expected later in 2027, after Ramadan. That timing has drawn comment from both sides. 

UFC CEO Dana White criticised the decision to wait until after Ramadan, but Covington spoke up for Makhachev and argued that the champion deserved time before returning to competition.