Colby Covington earned his USADA jacket for passing his 50th drug test.
Since partnering with the UFC in 2015, USADA has dedicated its resources to limiting the usage of illegal substances in MMA. The drug-testing agency awards fighters who stay clean by giving them a jacket after successfully passing 50 tests. Covington is the newest fighter to reach the milestone, with the UFC making the announcement on Twitter by saying:
“Congratulations to @ColbyCovMMA for his 50th clean test under the USADA program ”
Covington made his UFC debut in 2014, winning his first three fights before losing to Warlley Alves at UFC 194. The American bounced back with seven consecutive wins from 2016-2019, including a 170-pound interim championship bout against Robbie Lawler.
After establishing himself as an elite welterweight, ‘Chaos’ took on Kamaru Usman for the unified 170-pound title. Covington looked impressive before suffering a somewhat controversial fifth-round TKO. The Oregon State alum re-gained moment against Tyron Woodley and then lost a second time to Usman.
Covington last fought in March 2022 against his friend-turned-rival Jorge Masvidal. The 34-year-old dominated his way to a unanimous decision win. Unfortunately, the rivalry spilled over into the streets, with Masvidal sucker punching ‘Chaos,’ leading to an ongoing lawsuit. The question is, what’s next for the former UFC welterweight interim champion in the Octagon?
Congratulations to @ColbyCovMMA for his 5️⃣0️⃣th clean test under the USADA program 💪👏 pic.twitter.com/uHSO6rUyXO
— UFC (@ufc) January 29, 2023
What’s next for Colby Covington?
Colby Covington is currently the number two-ranked UFC welterweight. The only fighter ahead of ‘Chaos’ is Kamaru Usman, who secured an instant rematch against Leon Edwards after losing the 170-pound championship in August. The world title rematch is taking place at UFC 286 on March 18.
While Usman and Edwards determine the welterweight king, Covington will likely need another win to secure a title shot. The best options for his next fight would be Khamzat Chimaev, assuming he’s staying at welterweight, and Belal Muhammad. With that said, it’s unclear when ‘Chaos’ plans to fight again.
Covington is suing Masvidal for assault, which allegedly led to physical damages, including brain damage. As a result, there are rumors that ‘Chaos’ won’t be able to fight until the lawsuit is settled. Since the 2022 altercation, the 34-year-old has disappeared from the public eye outside of an occasional social media post.
