Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC rankings due to prolonged inactivity. His last fight was against Buckley in 2024, which he lost via stoppage. Since then, Covington has been involved in a lawsuit with Jorge Masvidal and has competed in RAF (Rough and Rowdy Fighting). The UFC typically removes fighters from rankings after extended periods without competing in the organization.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the UFC's official welterweight rankings following an extended stretch without competing inside the octagon, the promotion confirmed amid its standard policy of removing inactive fighters from the divisional listings.
Covington, 38, carries a professional record of 17-5 and built his reputation as one of the welterweight division's most relentless pressure fighters. Known by his nickname "Chaos," the American standout trains out of MMA Masters and fights out of an orthodox stance at five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach. His numbers reflect a high-volume wrestling-based game, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. His last octagon appearance came in 2024, when he suffered a stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley — a defeat that left him without a win to anchor a ranking case.
Since that loss, Covington's name has surfaced more in legal circles than in matchmaking conversations. He has been entangled in a lawsuit involving Jorge Masvidal, the 41-year-old American Top Team veteran who holds a 35-17-0 record and is himself a former BMF title holder. Covington also took a bout in Rough and Rowdy Fighting, stepping outside the UFC to stay active, though that appearance did not count toward his organizational standing.
The UFC's policy on rankings inactivity is not new — fighters who go extended periods without a sanctioned UFC bout risk losing their placement regardless of prior status.
Why it matters
- Covington losing his ranking removes him from the official welterweight picture at 38, raising questions about his path back into title contention.
- Any return to the UFC would likely require a ranked win before he could re-enter divisional conversations.
- The ongoing legal dispute with Masvidal adds an off-cage complication that may affect his near-term availability or focus.
