Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC rankings due to lack of activity. His last fight was against Ian Machado Garry in 2024, which he lost by finish. Since that defeat, Covington has not competed in the octagon. Instead, he has been involved in legal proceedings with Jorge Masvidal and has made appearances at RAF events. The UFC typically removes fighters from rankings after extended periods of inactivity.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the UFC welterweight rankings following an extended stretch away from competition, the promotion confirmed as of April 2026.
Covington, 38, built his reputation as one of the most active and polarizing welterweights in UFC history. The American fighter out of MMA Masters carries a professional record of 17-5 and long ranked among the elite at 170 pounds, earning multiple title shots over the course of his career. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach, he fights out of an orthodox stance and has been known for relentless forward pressure, averaging 3.81 significant strikes landed per minute and an impressive 3.64 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
His last octagon appearance came in 2024, when he suffered a finish loss to Ian Machado Garry. That defeat snapped any momentum he had built and left him without a win to point to heading into a lengthy absence. In the time since, Covington has been involved in legal proceedings against former friend and rival Jorge Masvidal and has made appearances at Real American Fight events rather than returning to competition.
Why it matters
- Covington's removal reflects the UFC's standard policy of cutting inactive fighters from official rankings regardless of past status.
- His absence leaves the welterweight division without one of its most established gatekeeper names at the top of the rankings.
- Any path back to relevance at 170 pounds will require Covington to secure a new bout and earn his way back into the rankings picture.
