Colby Covington says a showdown with Georges St-Pierre on the Actual American Freestyle mats may very well be nearer than most followers assume. In an interview with Vincent Falco of LowKick MMA, the previous UFC interim welterweight champion revealed that RAF is actively in discussions with St-Pierre about competing at an upcoming occasion.
Colby Covington vs. Georges St-Pierre
Covington, who has been a fixture across the promotion since shutting out former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold by way of 12-0 technical fall at RAF 5 in January, was in attendance on the RAF 6 media day in Tempe, Arizona forward of the February 28 card. He has since turn out to be a long-term companion and investor in Actual American Beer, the Hulk Hogan co-founded model that serves as RAF’s title sponsor. Talking in an unique interview with LowKick, Covington stated:
“There’s been a number of traction with these matches, and we would have GSP on the subsequent present. I most likely shouldn’t give any spoilers as a result of Chad Bronstein may come over right here and beat me up, so I’m not going to say something too loopy or give away any inside info.
“GSP is ; he needs to come back out and he nonetheless has that aggressive fireplace, and I do know the followers nonetheless need to see him. GSP, get out right here. Let’s do that: America versus Canada. We’ve acquired that rivalry occurring, particularly after what simply occurred on the Olympics with the hockey group, so let’s go settle it in actual American freestyle: Colby Covington versus GSP.
“So far as Usman, he’s exhibiting a number of curiosity as effectively, however he’s not going to get a title combat, so I feel his profession goes to be finished and he’s most likely going to retire. It is sensible to do that trilogy over right here in actual American freestyle and provides the followers the most important and finest present they will get.”
Covington’s “America versus Canada” framing ties straight into the USA’s 2-1 extra time win over Canada within the males’s hockey gold medal sport on the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on February 22. The end result reignited a well-recognized rivalry between the 2 nations, and Covington seems desperate to channel that power right into a wrestling matchup with the Canadian St-Pierre.
The GSP pursuit has been constructing for months. Covington first referred to as out St-Pierre throughout his post-fight interview after the Rockhold win, pointing to takedown statistics as the explanation the match is sensible. St-Pierre holds the UFC welterweight document with 87 profession takedowns, whereas Covington sits second with 70.
RAF 7 is scheduled for March 28 on the Yuengling Middle in Tampa, Florida, headlined by Kyle Dake defending his cruiserweight title towards Parker Keckeisen. Whether or not St-Pierre seems at that occasion or a later card stays to be seen. The promotion has additionally introduced RAF 8 for April 18 in Philadelphia.
St-Pierre final competed in MMA at UFC 217 in November 2017, when he submitted Michael Bisping to win the middleweight title earlier than retiring. At this stage, GSP is essentially thought-about the Best of All-Time in MMA.
Kamaru Usman in RAF?
Covington additionally addressed Kamaru Usman in his feedback. He and Usman fought twice within the UFC, at UFC 245 in 2019 and UFC 268 in 2021, with Usman profitable each. Covington has been vocal about wanting a trilogy. Usman has been open to the concept as effectively, having expressed common curiosity in competing in RAF. Nevertheless, Covington’s feedback recommend he views the GSP matchup because the precedence.
Covington wrestled collegiately at Oregon State College, the place he was a two-time Pac-10 champion and NCAA Division I All-American at 174 kilos. St-Pierre has no collegiate wrestling background however constructed probably the most efficient takedown video games in UFC historical past throughout his 9 consecutive welterweight title defenses from 2008 to 2013.
RAF, co-founded by CEO Chad Bronstein and the late Hulk Hogan, launched in August 2025 and airs on FOX Nation. The promotion has shortly attracted crossover MMA expertise, with Henry Cejudo headlining RAF 6 towards Urijah Faber, Arman Tsarukyan competing on the identical card, and Michael Chandler having headlined RAF 3. Bronstein has acknowledged that RAF plans to maneuver to a weekly occasion format by the tip of 2026.
