Colby Covington has been officially removed from the UFC welterweight rankings due to a prolonged absence from competition. Covington's last fight was against Joaquin Buckley in 2024, which he lost via stoppage. Since then, he has not competed inside the octagon. Instead, Covington has been occupied with legal proceedings against Jorge Masvidal and appearances in other combat sports promotions. The UFC's decision to remove him from the rankings reflects their policy on fighter activity requirements.
Colby Covington has been officially dropped from the UFC welterweight rankings, with the promotion citing his prolonged absence from competition as the reason for the removal.
Covington, 38, holds a professional record of 17-5-0 and built his reputation as one of the division's most relentless wrestlers, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career. The orthodox fighter out of MMA Masters stands five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach. His last octagon appearance came in 2024, when he suffered a stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley — a defeat that has since been followed by complete inactivity inside the cage. In the time since, Covington has been involved in legal proceedings against former training partner Jorge Masvidal and has made appearances in other combat sports promotions.
Buckley, the man who handed Covington that most recent loss, currently sits ranked eleventh in the welterweight division with a record of 21-8-0. The 32-year-old southpaw from Murcielago MMA is 178 cm tall with a 76-inch reach and averages 3.88 significant strikes per minute.
Masvidal, meanwhile, holds a record of 35-17-0 at 41 years of age. The orthodox striker from American Top Team lands 4.05 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy, with the legal dispute between him and Covington playing out away from competition.
Why it matters
- Covington's removal opens a rankings slot in a welterweight division already in flux
- His absence and outside obligations have made a UFC return timeline entirely unclear
- The decision reinforces the UFC's stated policy on activity requirements for ranked fighters
