Colby Covington to face top-10 UFC bantamweight after Dillon Danis pulls out two days before match

Colby Covington has a new opponent for the Hype FC event in Rome.

The former interim UFC welterweight champion is looking to stay active in wrestling and grappling after seemingly wrapping up his career inside the cage.

Since Covington announced his UFC retirement, he has become one of the top competitors in Real American Freestyle, where he holds the cruiserweight crossover championship.

‘Chaos’ also signed with Hype FC for submission-only contests, where his latest outing will come against an unexpected opponent.

Hype FC needed to find a last-minute replacement for Tuesday’s main event in Italy.

Covington was initially set to face Dillon Danis in the headliner at the PalaPellicone in Rome. It would have been a combat sports rematch after the ex-UFC star beat the controversial former Bellator fighter in RAF this past March.

Danis has been getting plenty of attention in 2026. Following the loss to Covington, he also faced defeats on the RAF mat against Khamzat Chimaev and Arman Tsarukyan.

Now, Danis won’t be making a quick return after his loss to the Armenian UFC lightweight, having pulled out of the upcoming Hype FC event on late notice.

Italian fans will still get to see Covington in action, as No. 8-ranked UFC bantamweight contender Raul Rosas Jr. has stepped up to face him.

After winning his first main event inside the Octagon against Raoni Barcelos in September, Rosas Jr. will keep busy between fights by testing his jiu-jitsu skills against Covington.

🚨 Dillon Danis pulled out of his grappling match vs Colby Covington at Hype FC in Rome Colby will face Raul Rosas Jr instead https://t.co/s9J6F2owrB

Rosas Jr. has previously appeared under the Hype FC banner, going the distance with former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo in a match that was ruled a draw.

Before his latest victory inside the Octagon, the surging bantamweight contender submitted the brother of Zabit Magomedsharipov at ACBJJ 21.