Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC rankings due to lack of fights. His last bout was against Buckley in 2024, which he lost by stoppage. Since then, Covington has not competed in the UFC. Instead, he has been involved in a lawsuit with Jorge Masvidal and has been competing in RAF. The removal reflects the UFC's policy of maintaining active fighters in their official rankings.
Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC welterweight rankings, with the promotion citing inactivity as the reason for the decision.
Covington, 38, holds a professional record of 17-5 and built his reputation as one of the welterweight division's most relentless pressure fighters. The American wrestler, who stands five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach and trains out of MMA Masters, averaged 3.81 significant strikes per minute and 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes over the course of his UFC career. His last appearance inside the octagon came in 2024, when he suffered a stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley. He has not competed in the UFC since.
In the time away from the promotion, Covington has been occupied on two fronts: a legal dispute with former training partner Jorge Masvidal, and a stint competing under the Rage Fighting Championships banner.
Why it matters
- The removal ends Covington's run as a ranked welterweight, a position he held for years after back-to-back title shots against Kamaru Usman.
- It reflects the UFC's broader policy of reserving ranked spots for fighters who remain active within the promotion.
- His absence creates a vacancy in the 170-pound rankings at a time when the division is already in flux following recent title activity.
- Any path back into the official rankings would require Covington to return to UFC competition and string together results against ranked opposition.
