Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC rankings due to his lack of recent fights. Covington last competed in 2024 when he suffered a stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley. Since then, he has not booked another UFC bout. Despite his absence from active competition, Covington has been involved in a lawsuit with Jorge Masvidal and has competed in the Russian promotion RAF. His removal from the rankings reflects the UFC's policy regarding fighter inactivity. This marks a significant fall for the former interim welterweight champion.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the UFC's official welterweight rankings, with the promotion removing the 38-year-old from the divisional standings due to an extended period without competition.
Covington, who carries a professional record of 17-5 and fights out of MMA Masters, last stepped inside the octagon in 2024, when he suffered a stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley. He has not secured a new UFC bout since that defeat. The former interim welterweight champion was once among the most active wrestlers in the division, averaging 3.64 takedown attempts per 15 minutes throughout his career. His removal signals that the UFC's inactivity policy applies regardless of a fighter's past profile or title history.
The man who handed Covington that loss, Buckley, currently sits ranked 11th in the welterweight division at 32 years old. The southpaw holds a record of 21-8, stands five-foot-ten with a 76-inch reach, and lands 3.88 significant strikes per minute. His finish of Covington remains one of the more notable results of his career to date.
While Covington has been absent from the UFC roster, he has stayed visible off the canvas. He has been involved in an ongoing lawsuit with former training partner and fellow welterweight Jorge Masvidal, and has taken fights in the Russian promotion RAF.
Why it matters
- Covington's exit from the rankings reshuffles the welterweight picture and opens a spot for active contenders to move up.
- His removal underscores the UFC's willingness to apply inactivity rules to high-profile names as well as lower-ranked fighters.
- A career-long elite grappler with volume striking, Covington would need a return bout to re-enter the divisional conversation.
