Colby Covington Losses: Who Has ‘Chaos’ Lost to in His MMA/UFC Career?

Few fighters in the world of MMA match Colby Covington’s knack for polarizing fans. With every sharp-tongued remark, ‘Chaos’ has cemented himself as one of the most controversial figures in the UFC. But Covington’s narrative isn’t just about trash talk; it’s a saga of grit, glory, and bouncing back from gut-wrenching defeats.

In an interview with UFC.com, Covington shared, “I don’t feel alive until I’m in that UFC Octagon. That’s when I feel the most alive in my life and I feel like that’s the true meaning.” This is a testament to his relentless pursuit of excellence in the sport. But his rise to fame wasn’t without stumbles and here’s a look at the times Colby Covington came up short inside the Octagon!

Who did Colby Covington lose to?

Colby Covington was handed his first loss by none other than Warlley Alves. The two locked horns back in 2015 and Alves submitted Covington in the very first round of the bout. At the time, his record was 8 and 0. The next time he would lose to an opponent would be four years later.

The opponent would be none other than Kamaru Usman. Called the greatest welterweight on the planet by Dana White, Usman was the reigning welterweight champion who had to defend his title against ‘Chaos’. And he did so with great grit.

Usman finished Covington in the last round of their bout at UFC 245. Handing him his second loss was not going to be enough for ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ and only having one title shot wasn’t enough for Covington. The two would clash once again in 2021.

Yet again, for the welterweight title, the two fought for five rounds once more at UFC 268. Unfortunately, Covington lost to Usman, this time, via a unanimous decision. A few months later, the title would sit on Leon Edwards’ shoulder and Covington was once more poised to make another run at UFC gold that had eluded him till now. But at UFC 296, ‘Rocky’ defended his throne with a unanimous decision win that left ‘Chaos’ with another failed campaign to capture the welterweight throne.

Colby Covington UFC record

Colby Covington’s UFC journey is a testament to his resilience. With 12 wins and 4 losses, his record reflects a career marked by high-stakes battles. Among his achievements, he clinched the interim UFC welterweight title in 2018 with a dominant performance against Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 225.

‘Chaos’ holds the record for the most significant strikes landed in a welterweight bout (179) against Robbie Lawler, an achievement that showcases his relentless pace and cardio that has withered many prominent names like Tyron Woodley and Demian Maia. He’s also second in welterweight takedowns, with 69 to his name, a nod to his collegiate wrestling roots as an NCAA Division 1 All-American out of Oregon State University in 2011.

Covington’s accolades also include two Fight of the Night bonuses, earned in his epic clashes with Usman and Jorge Masvidal. These battles etched his name among the division’s elite, even as championship gold remained elusive for the polarizing UFC star. As mentioned above, Covington won the interim welterweight title in 2018 but why wasn’t he able to unify the belts and become an undisputed champion?

Why did Colby Covington lose his interim title?

After his domination of Rafael dos Anjos, all signs pointed to a possible clash between Colby Covington and then champion Tyron Woodley to unify the belts. However, a nasal surgery led to Covington being unable to compete according to the UFC’s proposed timelines. Instead, the promotion pivoted towards setting up a bout between Woodley and Darren Till and Covington was stripped of the interim title.

This decision sparked controversy and added fuel to Covington’s brash persona. Stripped but undeterred, he channeled his frustration into fiery callouts and returned to face Robbie Lawler where he put in a record-setting performance!

Now, a year after his loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 296, ‘Chaos’ will return to action to take on rising star Joaquin Buckley on December 14 at UFC on ESPN 63/UFC Tampa. As Covington prepares to face Buckley in his latest attempt to reclaim relevance in the welterweight division, one thing remains certain: love him or hate him, you can’t ignore him. Will this fight mark the resurgence of ‘Chaos’? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!