The long-awaited fight between former teammates Colby Covington and Tyron Woodley finally has a straight date, with the welterweights expected to meet at a UFC event on September 19 in Las Vegas.
Woodley first posted the news on Instagram. Several people with knowledge of the booking confirmed to MMA Fighting that the matchup is currently in the works for the September 19 card, although contracts have not yet been issued or signed. UFC officials have not yet confirmed the matchup.
The rivalry between Covington and Woodley dates back several years, after previously training partners with American Top Team in Florida. Covington then went on a very public campaign against Woodley in hopes of scoring a welterweight title shot.
Covington finally stepped up in June 2018 to claim the interim welterweight title, but he was forced to undergo sinus surgery in the aftermath of a fifth-round fight with Rafael dos Anjos. That prevented him from finally fighting Woodley in September, and the UFC finally stepped up to offer the title chance to Darren Till.
Woodley then suffered a thumb injury that prevented him from competing again until March 2019. But the UFC decided to give Kamaru Usman a title instead of offering the matchup to Covington again.
The last attempt to book the fighter came in August after Covington posted a copy of a signed violation agreement, while Woodley called for non-signing the contract. It turned out that Woodley was offered that date, but he could not compete on that timeline after his loss to Gilbert Burns in May.
Now it appears that all obstacles have been removed for Covington and Woodley to go to war at the end of September 19th.
The fight will not only bring the rivals head-to-head in a highly anticipated clash between top welterweights, but it will also serve as an opportunity for both to bounce back from recent losses.
Woodley is trying to return to the winning column after back-to-back losses to Usman and Burns. Meanwhile, Covington is making his first appearance since suffering a fifth-round TKO to Usman this past December.
