Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC rankings due to his lack of fights. Covington last competed against Buckley in 2024, where he lost by stoppage. Since that defeat, he has not booked another UFC bout. Instead, Covington has been involved in a lawsuit with Jorge Masvidal and has competed in RAF. The UFC typically removes fighters from rankings after extended periods of inactivity to keep the rankings relevant to active competitors.
Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC welterweight rankings after an extended period of inactivity following his 2024 stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley.
Covington, 38, carries a professional record of 17-5 and competes at 180 cm with a 72-inch reach out of MMA Masters. Known for his relentless pressure and elite wrestling output, he averages 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes, one of the higher rates in the welterweight division. His last octagon appearance ended in defeat when Buckley stopped him in 2024, and he has not signed for a UFC bout since.
In the time since that loss, Covington has been occupied outside of the UFC. He competed in RAF and has been involved in a legal dispute with fellow American fighter Jorge Masvidal. Masvidal, 41, holds a record of 35-17 and trains out of American Top Team. The two have a long and well-documented personal history, and the ongoing lawsuit has kept Covington's name in the news despite his absence from the rankings.
The UFC periodically clears inactive fighters from its official rankings to ensure the lists reflect competitors who are actively competing or scheduled to fight.
Why it matters
- Covington's removal signals the UFC's position that he currently has no clear path back to a ranked welterweight slot
- The lawsuit with Masvidal adds an off-cage complication to any near-term return timeline
- His absence creates a small opening in the welterweight picture, where ranked contenders may benefit from the reshuffling
