Former welterweight title challenger Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC's official rankings due to lack of activity. Covington's last fight was against Ian Machado Garry in 2024, where he lost by stoppage. Since that defeat, Covington has not competed in the octagon, instead focusing on a lawsuit against Jorge Masvidal and participating in the Rough and Rowdy Fighting (RAF) promotion. The UFC typically removes fighters from rankings after extended periods of inactivity to keep the divisional standings current and relevant.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the UFC's official welterweight rankings, with the promotion removing the 38-year-old from the divisional standings following an extended stretch away from competition.
Covington, who fights out of MMA Masters and carries a professional record of 17-5, last stepped into the octagon in 2024 against Ian Machado Garry, suffering a stoppage loss that marked the fifth defeat of his career. Since that fight, the American has not returned to UFC competition, instead directing his attention toward a lawsuit against fellow welterweight Jorge Masvidal and making appearances for the Rough and Rowdy Fighting promotion. Known as "Chaos," Covington built his reputation largely on relentless wrestling pressure, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career — one of the higher rates in the division.
The fighter he lost to, Ian Machado Garry, sits at number one in the welterweight rankings at just 28 years old. The Irishman holds a 17-1 record and has been one of the division's most productive strikers, landing 4.78 significant strikes per minute at a 54 percent accuracy rate across his UFC tenure.
Masvidal, whose name surfaces in connection with Covington's legal pursuits rather than any scheduled bout, is a 41-year-old veteran with a 35-17 record. "Gamebred" trains out of American Top Team and owns a striking output of 4.05 significant strikes per minute over his lengthy career.
Why it matters
- Covington's removal keeps the welterweight rankings current and opens space for active contenders to move up.
- At 38, with no scheduled fight, his path back to a ranking spot would require a return to UFC competition.
- The ongoing legal situation with Masvidal adds further uncertainty to his near-term fighting future.
