Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC welterweight rankings due to lack of activity. His last fight was against Joaquin Buckley in 2024, which he lost by stoppage. Since then, Covington has not competed inside the Octagon. Currently, he is involved in a lawsuit with Jorge Masvidal and has been appearing at RAF events instead of fighting in the UFC. The removal from rankings is standard procedure for fighters who remain inactive for extended periods.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the UFC welterweight rankings after an extended period of inactivity, the promotion confirmed on April 21, 2026.
Covington, 38, holds a professional record of 17-5 and had long been one of the most prominent figures in the 170-pound division. Known by the nickname "Chaos," the American fighter out of MMA Masters carries a wrestling-heavy style that has produced 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career. His last Octagon appearance came in 2024, when he suffered a stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley — a defeat that has proven to be his final bout to date. With no subsequent fight booked or completed, the UFC exercised its standard policy of removing inactive fighters from the official rankings.
Buckley, the man who handed Covington that final loss, sits at number 11 in the welterweight division at 32 years old. The southpaw from Murcielago MMA carries a record of 21-8 and has built a reputation as a dangerous striker, averaging 3.88 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach giving him a notable physical advantage in most matchups.
Away from competition, Covington has been occupied on two fronts. He has been making appearances at RAF events rather than pursuing a return to the Octagon, and he is currently involved in a legal dispute with former training partner and fellow welterweight Jorge Masvidal. Masvidal, 41, is a veteran of the division with a 35-17 record who also trains out of the American Top Team stable.
Why it matters
- Covington's removal opens a ranking spot and shifts the welterweight landscape heading into the second half of 2026.
- His absence removes a former title contender from the divisional picture entirely until he logs another fight.
- The ongoing lawsuit with Masvidal adds an off-cage storyline that continues to follow both fighters.
