Former welterweight title challenger Colby Covington has been removed from the official UFC rankings due to a lack of recent activity. Covington last fought in 2024 when he suffered a stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley. Since that defeat, Covington has not competed inside the Octagon and has instead been involved in a lawsuit with Jorge Masvidal while making appearances at RAF events. The UFC typically removes fighters from rankings after extended periods of inactivity, and Covington's removal reflects his nearly two-year absence from competition.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the official UFC welterweight rankings, with the promotion removing the 38-year-old from its pound-for-pound lists following an extended stretch away from competition.
Covington, who carries a professional record of 17-5, last stepped into the Octagon in 2024 and was stopped by Joaquin Buckley in that appearance. The Oregon-born fighter trains out of MMA Masters and built his reputation as one of the division's elite pressers, averaging 3.64 takedown attempts per 15 minutes across his career alongside 3.81 significant strikes landed per minute. That combination of wrestling-heavy output and constant forward pressure made him a perennial title threat for years, but nearly two years without a fight has now cost him his ranked status.
The loss to Buckley proved costly on multiple fronts. Buckley, 32, holds an 21-8 record and currently sits at number 11 in the welterweight division. The southpaw out of Murcielago MMA stands five-foot-ten with a 76-inch reach and lands 3.88 significant strikes per minute, and stopping Covington represented one of the more notable victories of his career to date.
Away from the cage, Covington has been involved in an ongoing legal dispute with Jorge Masvidal and has made appearances at RAF events. Masvidal, also American-born and now 41 years old with a record of 35-17, is a longtime rival of Covington's and a fellow welterweight veteran who trains out of American Top Team.
Why it matters
- Covington loses his ranked position after nearly two years without an Octagon appearance, resetting any title aspirations he may have had
- His removal opens a rankings slot in a welterweight division that remains active and competitive
- A return fight would likely require Covington to work his way back through the rankings rather than stepping straight into a high-profile contest
