Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC rankings due to his prolonged absence from competition. Covington's last fight was against Joaquin Buckley in 2024, which he lost by stoppage. Since then, he has not competed in the octagon and has instead been involved in a lawsuit with Jorge Masvidal and appearing at RAF events. The UFC typically removes fighters from rankings after extended periods of inactivity. Covington's removal marks the end of his tenure as a ranked welterweight. It remains unclear when or if he will return to active competition in the UFC.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the UFC welterweight rankings, the promotion confirming his removal following an extended stretch away from competition that now stretches well past his most recent octagon appearance.
Covington, 38, carried a 17-5 record into his last outing and had long been one of the division's most prominent figures. Known for relentless pressure and an elite grappling-based attack, he averaged 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career — a rate that made him a nightmare for opponents on the feet. His loss to Joaquin Buckley in 2024, suffered by stoppage, proved to be his final appearance under the UFC banner so far. Since then, he has stayed out of the octagon, surfacing instead in connection with a legal dispute involving Jorge Masvidal and making appearances at RAF events.
Buckley, 32, who delivered the defeat that effectively ended Covington's ranked status, currently sits at number 11 in the welterweight division with a record of 21-8. The southpaw out of Murcielago MMA stands five-foot-ten with a 76-inch reach and lands 3.88 significant strikes per minute, underlining the finishing power he brought to that contest.
Masvidal, 41, the fellow American Top Team-linked fighter at the center of Covington's off-cage legal matters, holds a career record of 35-17 and remains a recognizable name in the sport despite his own extended absence from active competition.
Why it matters
- Covington's exit clears a spot in the welterweight top 15, reshaping the division's ranked landscape
- His removal is a direct consequence of UFC policy on inactivity, not a contractual release, leaving his future status uncertain
- The ongoing lawsuit with Masvidal adds an off-cage dimension that may complicate any potential return to competition
