Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC rankings due to his lack of fighting activity. Covington last competed against Joaquin Buckley in 2024, losing by stoppage. Since that defeat, he has not scheduled another fight in the octagon. Instead, Covington has been involved in legal proceedings with Jorge Masvidal and has been competing in other ventures. The UFC typically removes fighters from rankings after extended periods of inactivity to maintain current and relevant divisional standings.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the UFC welterweight rankings after an extended stretch away from competition, the promotion confirmed ahead of its April 21, 2026 rankings update.
Covington, 38, carried a 17-5 record into what became his last octagon appearance — a 2024 stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley. The American fighter out of MMA Masters had long been one of the welterweight division's most recognizable names, built on a wrestling-heavy style that produced 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. That output made him a persistent threat on the ground, but the defeat to Buckley ended what had already been a slowing run of activity. Since that night, no new bout has been scheduled, and Covington has been occupied with legal proceedings involving fellow welterweight Jorge Masvidal as well as other outside ventures.
Buckley, the man who handed Covington that final loss, currently sits 11th in the welterweight rankings at 21-8. The 32-year-old southpaw from Murcielago MMA stands five-foot-ten with a 76-inch reach and lands 3.88 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the division's more dangerous stand-up fighters despite a 36 percent striking accuracy mark.
Masvidal, 41, holds a 35-17 record and remains affiliated with American Top Team. The longtime welterweight and former BMF champion averages 4.05 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy, along with 1.38 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Covington's removal opens a rankings slot in an already competitive welterweight division
- The UFC's inactivity policy keeps divisional standings reflective of fighters currently competing
- Covington's ongoing legal dispute with Masvidal adds further uncertainty to any potential return timeline
