Colby Covington demands chance to ‘settle the trilogy’ with UFC rival Kamaru Usman

Colby Covington is looking for revenge against the fiercest rival of UFC career.

Covington is one of the best welterweights of the last generation. While he has struggled with results lately, he spent years near the very top of his division, and even briefly reigned as interim champion.

During his prime, Covington twice challenge for undisputed UFC welterweight gold. Both title opportunities came against the great Kamaru Usman.

In the first fight, the pair went back and fourth for four rounds, but Usman ultimately won by TKO in round 5. In the second fight, Usman won again, this time with a close decision.

That technically means Usman is 2-0 in his rivalry with Covington. Ordinarily, that’s where it would end, but Covington believes there’s still a score to settle.

He’s hoping to settle that score in a RAF (Real American Freestyle) match with Usman.

Colby Covington challenges UFC rival to wrestling match

Colby Covington calls out Kamaru Usman to a wrestling match on RAF 👀

“We need to settle the trilogy. If Usman doesn’t get the title fight, come see daddy in Real American Freestyle and let’s do this trilogy, b*tch. CEO of EPO.”

(via @BloodyElbow)pic.twitter.com/uQXKdo3vw0

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) February 27, 2026

“I’d like to see Usman in Real American Freestyle,” Covington said, targeting his UFC rival. “We need to do this. We need to settle the trilogy in Real American Freestyle, so that’s what I’m proposing here today. If Usman doesn’t get the [UFC] title shot [against Islam Makhachev], come see daddy at Real American Freestyle, and let’s do this trilogy, b*tch.”

Usman is currently angling for a crack at reigning UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev. However, it doesn’t seem like he’ll get the shot. If he doesn’t, Covington believes he’ll accept the challenge for a wrestling match.

“He’s a competitor,” he said. “He wants these title fights, he wants these big matchups. It’s a huge matchup. I think he would do it… I think he wants to settle the score. He’s said for a while that he wants to do a trilogy with me. We’ve got unfinished business.

“The first fight was a scam… It was an early stoppage,” Covington added. “The second fight, a lot of people had me winning that fight 3-2… It only makes sense. Let’s settle this in Real American Freestyle for our trilogy, Usman.”

Covington hasn’t won a UFC fight in years, and hasn’t fought since a TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley in December of 2024. However, he is riding a win over former UFC champ Luke Rockhold on the RAF mats.