UFC has updated its official rankings with two significant changes in the welterweight division. Yaroslav Amosov has entered the rankings at number 15, marking his first appearance in the official UFC welterweight top 15. Mike Malott has debuted in the rankings at number 11, indicating a strong recent performance. Meanwhile, Colby Covington has dropped out of the top 15 entirely, ending his long tenure in the ranked welterweight contenders.
The UFC welterweight division has seen a meaningful reshuffling of its official rankings, with two fighters entering the top 15 and a longtime contender dropping off entirely as of April 21, 2026.
Yaroslav Amosov makes his first appearance in the UFC's official welterweight rankings, debuting at number 15. The 32-year-old carries an imposing 30-1-0 professional record and brings a grappling-heavy game to the 170-pound division, averaging 4.64 takedowns and 4.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes. Standing six feet tall with a 75-inch reach, the Orthodox fighter also connects at a 47 percent striking accuracy rate, making him a well-rounded threat at range and on the mat.
Mike Malott enters at number 11, a stronger debut position that reflects his recent momentum in the division. The 34-year-old Canadian, who trains out of Team Alpha Male, holds a 14-2-1 record and has shown consistent output on the feet, landing 3.93 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. At six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach, Malott also adds a submission dimension with 0.8 attempts per 15 minutes.
The most notable departure from the rankings is Colby Covington, whose exit ends a lengthy run inside the welterweight top 15. "Chaos" is 17-5-0 and has been one of the division's most recognizable figures, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes over his career. At 38, the American wrestler out of MMA Masters now finds himself on the outside of the official contender pool.
Why it matters
- Amosov's elite submission rate makes him an immediate grappling threat to any ranked welterweight
- Malott's number 11 slot puts him within striking distance of the top ten
- Covington dropping out tightens the field and shifts the contender landscape at 170 pounds
