Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC rankings due to his prolonged absence from competition. Covington last fought against Buckley in 2024, losing via stoppage. Since then, he has not competed inside the octagon. Instead, Covington has been involved in a legal battle with Jorge Masvidal and has appeared at RAF events. The UFC typically removes fighters from rankings after extended periods of inactivity to keep the rankings current and reflective of active competitors.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the official UFC welterweight rankings following an extended stretch away from competition, the organization confirmed on April 21, 2026.
Covington, 38, last stepped into the octagon in 2024, when he suffered a stoppage loss to Buckley. That defeat proved to be his most recent outing, and with no subsequent booking materializing, the UFC has now pulled the plug on his ranked status. The American fighter, who competes out of MMA Masters, carries a professional record of 17-5 and built his reputation as one of the division's most relentless pressure fighters, averaging 3.81 significant strikes per minute and an imposing 3.64 takedown attempts per 15 minutes throughout his career. In the time since his Buckley loss, Covington has been occupied outside the cage, most notably through an ongoing legal dispute with fellow welterweight Jorge Masvidal and a series of appearances at RAF events.
Masvidal, 41, holds a 35-17 record and competes out of American Top Team. The Miami-born veteran carries a 74-inch reach and lands 4.05 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy, numbers that underline the striking danger he has long posed inside the octagon.
Why it matters
- Covington's removal opens a rankings slot and creates fresh opportunities for active welterweights to climb toward title contention.
- The UFC's inactivity policy ensures the top-15 reflects fighters who are currently competing, keeping the divisional picture accurate.
- Covington's off-cage legal entanglement with Masvidal continues to keep both veterans in the spotlight despite their respective absences from the rankings.
