Colby Covington Back on the Wrestling Mats: from the Tsarukyan Clash to Gilbert Burns Talks
Covington's wrestling system is remarkably effective, but it is not invulnerable. His technical limitations stem largely from size constraints and an absence of high-threat finishing submissions. Throughout his MMA grappling credentials, Covington has rarely hunted for guillotines, rear-naked chokes, or leg locks. He uses wrestling as a position-advancement and fatigue mechanism, rarely as a submission delivery system.
Against larger grapplers with devastating physical strength, Covington can get stonewalled on initial entries. When opponents possess the core stability to withstand his cage drive without conceding wrist control, Covington must expend massive amounts of energy to secure single-leg lifts. If an opponent creates space and forces an open-mat freestyle engagement without fence support, Covington's attack efficiency drops.