Colby Covington Hospitalized, Pulled From Hype Quito Bout

Former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington was pulled from his scheduled submission-only grappling bout at Hype Fighting Championship in Quito, Ecuador, after medical issues that included a hospital visit the day before the event.

El Universo reported that Covington did not appear for his co-main event against Mayton Perea on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, at the Coliseo General Rumiñahui because of medical problems. Information provided during the event said Covington had gone to a hospital the day before. El Universo separately noted that organizers did not officially detail the specific medical cause. Extra described the absence as the result of an illness.

Hype Quito Key Facts

Late replacement in the co-main

Covington had been booked to face Perea under submission-only rules in the co-main of Hype’s first Ecuador card. AgentMMA reported that he was replaced at the last minute by Juan Albarello. El Universo identified the replacement as Juan Albarello Rangel, a Guayaquil fighter listed at 85 kilograms.

Albarello submitted Perea at 2 minutes, 19 seconds with a foot lock, per El Universo. AgentMMA described the finish as a foot americana in just over two minutes.

What Covington was booked for

Covington, 38, entered as a former UFC interim welterweight champion who trains out of MMA Masters and carries a 17-5 professional MMA record, per AgentMMA. El Universo reported that he had taken part in promotional activities ahead of the Quito show before the late scratch.

Perea, from Ibarra, had signed with the UFC after a 45-second TKO of Zevan Hunt on Dana White’s Contender Series and was using the Hype bout as a measuring stick before his promotional debut, El Universo reported. After the loss to Albarello, Perea apologized to the crowd and said he would aim to deliver in the UFC in February, according to El Universo and Extra.

Card context

The Oct. 4 Hype Quito main event was a 10-minute submission-only bout between Marlon “Chito” Vera and Jose Aldo that ended in a draw, El Universo and AgentMMA reported. The 15-bout card mixed bare-knuckle and submission-only matches at the Coliseo General Rumiñahui.