Ali Akbar Rosady
Colby Covington delivered a commanding performance at Real American Freestyle (RAF) 5 in Florida, swiftly dispatching Luke Rockhold in the main event with a technical fall and subsequently calling out UFC Hall of Famer Georges St-Pierre for a future wrestling bout. The former Oregon State All-American showcased his elite wrestling pedigree, leaving no doubt about his prowess on the mat and solidifying his position as a formidable force in pure grappling.
The event, held in Florida, marked a significant outing for both athletes. For Covington, it was an opportunity to highlight the foundational skills that underpinned his successful mixed martial arts career. For Rockhold, a former UFC Middleweight Champion known for his striking and submission grappling, it represented a foray into a specialized wrestling environment against one of the sport’s most decorated practitioners. Expectations were high regarding Covington’s ability to impose his will through wrestling, while Rockhold’s adaptability and physical strength were key factors observers watched closely.
From the opening whistle, Covington, often referred to by his moniker "Chaos" in the MMA world, asserted his control. He wasted no time in securing the first two points of the match, demonstrating the explosive quickness and precision that define his takedown game. Following the initial score, Covington immediately transitioned, attempting to secure a pin and an early finish. While Rockhold’s defensive efforts prevented the immediate stoppage, Covington maintained pressure, quickly racking up another two points to establish a 4-0 lead in the very early stages of the contest. This aggressive start set the tone, signaling Covington’s intent to dominate every exchange and capitalize on any opening.
The intensity continued as Covington sought to deepen his advantage. He initiated a slick ankle pick, a classic wrestling maneuver designed to bring an opponent to the mat by targeting their lower leg. Rockhold, despite being on the defensive, displayed considerable resilience and strength, refusing to concede the takedown. The struggle led to a stalemate, prompting the referee to intervene and reset the competitors back to their feet. This momentary pause, however, did little to disrupt Covington’s rhythm. Moments later, he initiated another powerful takedown attempt, this time securing the position and turning Rockhold to gain two more crucial points as the first period drew to a close, extending his lead to a comfortable 6-0.
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The commencement of the second period saw Rockhold attempt to shift the momentum. He initiated his first shot of the match, a direct effort to take Covington down and begin chipping away at the deficit. However, Covington’s defensive wrestling, a hallmark of his style, proved impenetrable. He swiftly reversed Rockhold’s attempt, executing a precise go-behind maneuver to secure another two points for himself. This sequence underscored the technical gap between the two, as Covington not only defended effectively but also immediately turned defense into offense.
The match reached its decisive conclusion shortly thereafter. Covington, relentless in his pursuit of points, grabbed a front headlock on Rockhold. From this dominant position, he executed a powerful throw, sending Rockhold to the mat. With a subsequent roll, Covington added a final four points to his tally, pushing his score to an insurmountable 12-0. This marked a technical fall, a victory condition in wrestling where a competitor achieves a significant point advantage (typically 10 or 15 points, depending on the rule set) over their opponent, leading to an immediate stoppage of the match. The rapid accumulation of points demonstrated Covington’s superior control, technique, and strategic execution throughout the bout.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, Covington exhibited sportsmanship in his post-match comments, acknowledging Rockhold’s willingness to step into the specialized wrestling arena. "It felt amazing," Covington stated following his victory. "He felt very strong. He was a big guy. I have a lot of respect for that guy. He was a very worthy opponent and I’m honored to share the mat with Luke Rockhold." This praise, coming from a competitor known for his often controversial public persona, highlighted the respect inherent in such high-level athletic contests. Covington reiterated this sentiment, giving credit to Rockhold for his "tenacity and flexibility during the match," recognizing the challenges Rockhold faced in adapting to a pure wrestling format against a highly specialized opponent.
The victory at RAF 5 marked Covington’s debut in the Real American Freestyle promotion and served as a powerful statement of his grappling capabilities. Real American Freestyle wrestling aims to blend elements of folkstyle, freestyle, and Greco-Roman wrestling, often emphasizing continuous action and aggressive scoring. Covington’s performance was a perfect embodiment of the promotion’s ethos.
Following his dominant win, Covington immediately shifted his focus to a potential dream match, issuing a direct challenge to one of mixed martial arts’ most revered figures: Georges St-Pierre. "You know who I want next? There’s only one person above me on the takedown list in UFC welterweight history and that’s Georges St-Pierre," Covington declared emphatically. "GSP, get out here in Real American Freestyle and let’s make it happen. I’ll talk to my people and they’ll come to your people and let’s make it happen. Everybody wants to see you, GSP."
This call-out resonates deeply within the combat sports community due to the historical context and the stylistic matchup it proposes. Georges St-Pierre, a two-division UFC champion and an inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame, is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. His career was defined not only by his striking and submission defense but, crucially, by his unparalleled wrestling and takedown ability. St-Pierre famously utilized his wrestling to control opponents, dictate the pace of fights, and secure dominant victories throughout his storied career. His record for the most takedowns in UFC welterweight history stands as a testament to his grappling prowess, a record Covington is actively pursuing.
Covington’s challenge is strategically significant. Both athletes are renowned for their wrestling-heavy approaches in MMA, making a pure wrestling match an intriguing proposition. Covington, an NCAA Division I All-American, transitioned his amateur wrestling success into a highly effective MMA career, becoming known for his relentless pressure, cardio, and superior chain wrestling. St-Pierre, while not coming from a collegiate wrestling background in the same vein as Covington, developed an elite wrestling game that allowed him to outgrapple and control some of the best strikers and jiu-jitsu practitioners in MMA history. A contest between these two would, therefore, be a clash of elite, yet distinct, wrestling philosophies and techniques.
The feasibility of such a match, however, remains to be seen. St-Pierre officially retired from mixed martial arts in 2019, though he has occasionally teased comebacks for specific high-profile matchups. Luring him out of retirement for a pure wrestling contest, rather than an MMA fight, would require significant negotiation and a compelling offer from RAF. St-Pierre’s last professional combat sports appearance was in 2017 when he defeated Michael Bisping for the UFC Middleweight Championship. Since then, he has maintained a high level of physical fitness but has largely remained away from competitive fighting.
For Real American Freestyle, securing a matchup of this magnitude would be a monumental achievement, potentially bringing significant mainstream attention to the nascent promotion. The logic behind Covington’s challenge is sound; St-Pierre’s star power and legendary accomplishments make him an ideal opponent to elevate the profile of any event. The prospect of two of the UFC’s most dominant welterweight wrestlers finally squaring off, albeit in a different format, is a tantalizing one for combat sports fans worldwide. Now, the onus is on RAF and the respective teams of Covington and St-Pierre to determine if this highly anticipated grappling showdown can transition from a compelling call-out to a tangible reality.
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