Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC rankings due to an extended period of inactivity. Covington last fought Joaquin Buckley in 2024, losing via stoppage. Since that defeat, he has not competed in the octagon. The post notes that Covington has been involved in legal disputes with Jorge Masvidal and has made appearances with RAF (a Russian promotion). His removal from the rankings reflects the UFC's policy on fighter activity. No indication has been given about when or if Covington plans to return to active competition.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the UFC welterweight rankings following an extended stretch without competing, the promotion confirmed on April 21, 2026.
Covington, 38, carries a professional record of 17 wins and 5 losses and built his reputation as one of the division's most relentless wrestlers, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. Fighting out of MMA Masters and standing five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach, "Chaos" last stepped into the octagon in 2024, suffering a stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley. That defeat ended a run in which Covington had been a perennial title contender and former interim champion at 170 pounds.
The man who handed Covington that loss, Buckley, is currently ranked 11th in the welterweight division at 32 years old. The St. Louis-born southpaw holds a record of 21-8 and brings a 76-inch reach into every fight, averaging 3.88 significant strikes per minute. The stoppage of Covington was among the most notable wins of Buckley's career.
Since the Buckley defeat, Covington has remained absent from UFC competition. The removal follows the organization's standard policy of clearing inactive fighters from its rankings. Outside the octagon, Covington has been entangled in legal disputes with former training partner Jorge Masvidal and has made appearances connected to RAF, a Russian MMA promotion.
Masvidal, now 41, holds a career record of 35-17 and remains associated with American Top Team, though his own activity level has similarly drawn attention in recent years.
Why it matters
- Covington's exit clears a spot in a welterweight rankings picture already in flux
- His absence since 2024 leaves his future with the UFC formally unaddressed
- Legal entanglements with Masvidal add further uncertainty to any potential comeback timeline
