Colby Covington says his showdown with Georges St-Pierre on the Actual American Freestyle Mat could also be nearer than most followers suppose. In an interview with Low Kick MMA’s Vincent Falco, the previous interim UFC welterweight champion revealed that RAF is in lively talks with St-Pierre about competing in future occasions.
Colby Covington vs. Georges St-Pierre
Covington, who has been a fixture within the promotion since his 12-0 technical fall shutout of former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold at RAF 5 in January, attended RAF 6’s media day in Tempe, Ariz., forward of the Feb. 28 card. Since then, he has develop into a long-term associate and investor in Actual American Beer, a model co-founded by Hulk Hogan and the title sponsor of the Royal Air Pressure. In an unique interview with Lowkick, Covington mentioned:
“There’s quite a lot of consideration on these matches and we’d have GSP on the following present. I in all probability should not spoil it as a result of it is Chad Bronstein.” I am not going to say something too loopy or give away any inside data since you would possibly come right here and beat me up.
“GSP is . He needs to come back out, he is nonetheless aggressive, and I do know the followers nonetheless wish to see him. Exit, GSP. Let’s do it, America vs. Canada. Particularly after what occurred with the hockey crew within the Olympics, there is a rivalry happening, so let’s settle it with an actual American freestyle, Colby Covington vs. GSP.”
“As for Usman, he is additionally proven quite a lot of curiosity, however he will not be competing in a title battle, so his profession is over and he’ll in all probability retire. It is sensible to do that trilogy right here with actual American freestyle and provides the followers the most important and finest present.”
Covington’s “USA vs. Canada” composition was immediately tied to america’ 2-1 additional time victory over Canada within the males’s hockey gold medal sport on the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on February twenty second. The end result reignited a well-recognized rivalry between the 2 nations, and it seems Covington needs to channel that vitality right into a wrestling showdown with Canada’s St-Pierre.
The pursuit of GSP has been intensifying for months. Covington first talked about St-Pierre’s title in his post-fight interview after Rockhold’s win, citing his takedown stats as the explanation this battle made sense. St-Pierre holds the UFC welterweight document for whole takedowns with 87, whereas Covington is second with 70.
RAF 7 is scheduled for March twenty eighth on the Yuengling Heart in Tampa, Florida, and can be headlined by Kyle Dake defending his cruiserweight title in opposition to Parker Keckeisen. It stays to be seen whether or not St-Pierre will seem in that occasion or on subsequent playing cards. The promotion additionally introduced RAF 8 on April 18th in Philadelphia.
St-Pierre final competed in MMA in November 2017 at UFC 217, when he submitted Michael Bisping to win the middleweight title earlier than retiring. At this level, GSP is taken into account to be the best fighter in blended martial arts historical past.
Will Kamaru Usman be part of the Royal Air Pressure?
Covington additionally talked about Kamaru Usman in his feedback. He and Usman have confronted off twice within the UFC, at UFC 245 in 2019 and at UFC 268 in 2021, with Usman profitable each occasions. Covington has been vocal about wanting a trilogy. Usman can also be open to the thought and has expressed a common curiosity in becoming a member of the Royal Air Pressure. Nevertheless, Covington’s feedback counsel he considers a matchup with GSP a precedence.
Covington wrestled in school at Oregon State College, the place he was a two-time Pac-10 champion at 174 kilos and an NCAA Division I All-American. St-Pierre has no collegiate wrestling background, however he developed one of the vital efficient takedown video games in UFC historical past throughout 9 consecutive welterweight title defenses from 2008 to 2013.
Co-founded by CEO Chad Bronstein and the late Hulk Hogan, RAF launched in August 2025 and airs on FOX Nation. The promotion rapidly introduced consideration to crossover MMA expertise, with Henry Cejudo headlining RAF6 vs. Yuliya Faber, Arman Tsarukyan competing on the identical card, and Michael Chandler headlining RAF3. Bronstein mentioned the RAF plans to maneuver to a weekly occasion format by the tip of 2026.
