Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC rankings because of his extended absence from competition. His last fight was against Joaquin Buckley in 2024, which he lost via stoppage. Since that defeat, Covington has not competed in the octagon. Instead, he has been involved in a legal dispute with Jorge Masvidal and has made appearances at RAF events. The UFC typically removes fighters from rankings after prolonged periods without booking fights.
Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC welterweight rankings, with the promotion cutting ties with his ranked status following an extended period without a booked fight.
Covington, 38, carried a 17-5 record into his most recent outing and had long been one of the welterweight division's most prominent figures. The American wrestler out of MMA Masters is known for his relentless volume and elite grappling, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. His last appearance in the octagon came in 2024, when he suffered a stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley. Since then, he has not returned to competition, instead drawing attention through a legal dispute with fellow welterweight Jorge Masvidal and through appearances at RAF events. The UFC's standard practice is to strip fighters of their rankings when they go prolonged stretches without being booked.
The man who handed Covington that final defeat, Buckley, holds an 21-8 record and currently sits at number 11 in the welterweight division. The 32-year-old southpaw out of Murcielago MMA stands five-foot-ten with a 76-inch reach and averages 3.88 significant strikes per minute. His stoppage of Covington added another highlight to a run that has steadily elevated his divisional standing.
Masvidal, 41, carries a 35-17 record and trains out of American Top Team. The orthodox striker lands 4.05 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy, also mixing in 1.38 takedowns per 15 minutes. His off-cage history with Covington, now playing out in a legal setting, keeps both men linked despite neither currently holding a ranking.
Why it matters
- Covington's removal creates an opening in the welterweight top fifteen, reshuffling positioning for active contenders
- His absence following the Buckley stoppage suggests the division is moving on without one of its former title challengers
- The ongoing legal dispute with Masvidal adds further uncertainty around any potential return to competition
