Colby Covington removed from UFC rankings due to inactivity

Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC welterweight rankings, with the organization applying its standard inactivity policy to the 38-year-old former title contender.

Covington, who fights out of MMA Masters, carries a professional record of 17-5 and built his reputation as one of the division's most relentless wrestlers, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach, the orthodox fighter was a fixture near the top of the welterweight rankings for several years. His last octagon appearance came in 2024, when he suffered a stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley — a defeat that has since left him without a scheduled return.

Buckley, ranked eleventh in the welterweight division, holds a record of 21-8 and has established himself as a genuine contender at 170 pounds. The 32-year-old southpaw from Murcielago MMA stands five-foot-ten with a 76-inch reach and lands 3.88 significant strikes per minute, making him a dangerous opponent on the feet.

Outside competition, Covington has remained in the public eye through legal action, with a lawsuit against fellow welterweight Jorge Masvidal currently ongoing. Masvidal, a 41-year-old veteran carrying a 35-17 record, fights out of American Top Team and holds a 74-inch reach. Covington has also been competing under the RAF promotion banner, though those appearances have not satisfied UFC activity requirements.

Why it matters

• Covington's removal opens his former ranking slot for active welterweights pushing up the ladder
• His stoppage loss to Buckley in 2024 already signaled a shift in his divisional standing
• Any UFC return would likely require Covington to re-establish himself against ranked opposition before contending again