Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC rankings due to lack of recent fights. His last bout was against Joaquin Buckley in 2024, which he lost by stoppage. Since then, Covington has not competed in the octagon. Instead, he has been involved in a lawsuit with Jorge Masvidal and has participated in events with the RAF (Real American Fight) promotion. The removal from rankings is standard UFC practice for fighters who remain inactive for extended periods. No information was provided about whether Covington plans to return to active competition.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the UFC welterweight rankings following an extended absence from competition, with the promotion applying its standard inactivity policy to remove the former title contender from the divisional standings.
Covington, 38, carries a professional record of 17-5 and built his reputation as one of the welterweight division's most durable and wrestling-heavy fighters, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career. The American, who trains out of MMA Masters in Florida, last stepped into the octagon in 2024, when he was stopped by Joaquin Buckley. That defeat marked his fifth career loss and left him without a victory to his name in recent memory. In the time since, Covington has been occupied off the canvas, entangled in a lawsuit involving Jorge Masvidal and making appearances for the Real American Fight promotion rather than returning to UFC competition.
The man who handed Covington that final ranking-era loss, Joaquin Buckley, sits at number 11 in the welterweight division at 32 years old with a record of 21-8. Fighting out of a southpaw stance with a 76-inch reach, the New Mansa has shown consistent striking output at 3.88 significant strikes per minute and is clearly continuing to build his divisional standing.
Masvidal, 41, holds a record of 35-17 and remains one of the sport's most recognizable names despite his own difficult recent stretch, though his connection to this story is through legal proceedings rather than competition.
Why it matters
- Covington's removal signals the UFC's willingness to clear rankings space even for high-profile names after prolonged inactivity
- The welterweight top 15 shifts as a result, affecting how contenders are positioned for future title opportunities
- No return date or fight announcement for Covington has been confirmed, leaving his competitive future genuinely open
