Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC rankings due to lack of recent fights. His last bout was against Joaquin Buckley in 2024, which he lost by stoppage. Since that defeat, Covington has not competed in the UFC, instead focusing on his lawsuit against Jorge Masvidal and making appearances at RAF events. The UFC typically removes fighters from rankings after extended periods of inactivity. Covington's removal reflects his absence from active competition in the promotion.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the UFC welterweight rankings, with the promotion cutting the 38-year-old from its official standings following an extended stretch away from competition.
Covington, who trains out of MMA Masters and carries a professional record of 17-5, last stepped into the octagon in 2024 against Joaquin Buckley, suffering a stoppage loss that ended a run in which he had been one of the division's most active and aggressive wrestlers. Known for elite cage control and a relentless grappling output — he averages 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes — Covington built his reputation as a constant threat to any welterweight's title aspirations. In the months since the Buckley defeat, he has not returned to competition, instead directing attention toward a civil lawsuit involving Jorge Masvidal and making appearances on the Rafael Anatolievich Fiziev event circuit.
Buckley, the man who handed Covington that most recent loss, continues to compete actively at welterweight. The 32-year-old southpaw holds a record of 21-8 and currently sits at number 11 in the divisional rankings. Buckley carries a 76-inch reach and averages 3.88 significant strikes landed per minute, a style that proved decisive against Covington in their meeting.
Masvidal, 41, holds a record of 35-17 and remains connected to the Covington story through the ongoing legal dispute between the two former training partners.
Why it matters
- Covington's removal opens a rankings slot in an already-crowded welterweight division, reshuffling the landscape for contenders below him.
- His 17-5 record and elite takedown volume mean a return to the octagon could quickly restore his relevance if activity resumes.
- The UFC's inactivity policy is being applied consistently, signaling the promotion will not hold spots for fighters regardless of their prior standing.
