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 ended in a stoppage loss for Covington. Since then, he has not competed in the octagon. Instead, Covington has been involved in a lawsuit with Jorge Masvidal and has been appearing in Rough n Rowdy promotions. The removal from rankings is standard protocol for fighters who remain inactive for prolonged periods. This marks a significant shift in Covington's UFC standing.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the UFC welterweight rankings, with the promotion removing "Chaos" due to his prolonged absence from competition.
Covington, 38, carries a professional record of 17-5 and built his reputation as one of the division's most relentless grapplers, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes across his UFC career. The American fighter out of MMA Masters last stepped into the octagon in 2024, suffering a stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley. He has not competed since, and the UFC's standard inactivity policy has now cost him his ranked position.
Buckley, 32, currently sits at number 11 in the welterweight division with a record of 21-8. The southpaw out of Murcielago MMA is a notable striker, averaging 3.88 significant strikes per minute and carrying a 76-inch reach that gives him a physical edge over much of the division.
Beyond his absence from the cage, Covington has been occupied outside the sport. He has been involved in a legal dispute with former training partner Jorge Masvidal and has made appearances for the Rough N Rowdy boxing promotion. Masvidal, 41, holds a record of 35-17 and remains one of the more recognizable names in the welterweight landscape despite his own recent run of difficult results.
Why it matters
- Covington's removal opens a rankings slot in an already competitive welterweight division
- His absence since the Buckley loss now stretches well past a year, with no return date established
- The ongoing lawsuit with Masvidal adds further uncertainty around his near-term fighting future
- Any comeback would require Covington to rebuild his ranked standing from outside the top fifteen
