The UFC has removed Colby Covington from their official rankings due to his absence from competition. Covington's last fight was against Joaquin Buckley in 2024, which he lost by stoppage. Since then, he has been involved in a lawsuit with Jorge Masvidal and has been competing in the RAF promotion instead of the UFC. The removal from rankings reflects the UFC's policy on fighter inactivity.
The UFC has dropped Colby Covington from its official welterweight rankings, citing inactivity, with the removal taking effect as of April 2026.
Covington, 38, carried a 17-5 record into his last octagon appearance and had long been one of the division's most polarizing presences under the "Chaos" nickname. Fighting out of MMA Masters in an orthodox stance with a 72-inch reach, he built his reputation largely on relentless pressure and elite wrestling, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. His most recent UFC outing ended in a stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley in 2024, and he has not competed inside the octagon since. Off the mat, Covington has been engaged in a lawsuit involving Jorge Masvidal, and has instead been competing in the RAF promotion rather than pursuing a UFC return.
Buckley, the man who last handed Covington a defeat, is currently ranked 11th in the welterweight division at 32 years old. The southpaw from Murcielago MMA carries a 21-8 record and owns a 76-inch reach that gives him a significant length advantage over most opponents. He averages 3.88 significant strikes per minute.
Masvidal, 41, holds a 35-17 record and fights out of American Top Team. The orthodox welterweight stands five-foot-eleven with a 74-inch reach and averages 4.05 significant strikes landed per minute at 47 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Covington's removal opens a rankings slot and shuffles positioning for active welterweights chasing top-ten status.
- The UFC's inactivity policy is enforced regardless of a fighter's historical profile or divisional significance.
- Covington's involvement in outside legal proceedings and a rival promotion signals an uncertain timeline for any potential UFC return.
