Colby Covington has been removed from the official UFC rankings due to an extended period without fighting. His last bout was against Joaquin Buckley in 2024, which he lost by stoppage. Despite being removed from the rankings, Covington remains active in legal proceedings, currently involved in a lawsuit with Jorge Masvidal. He is also scheduled to compete in the RAF promotion. The UFC typically removes fighters from rankings after prolonged inactivity to keep the rankings current and relevant.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the official UFC welterweight rankings, with the organization removing the 38-year-old from the listings following an extended stretch of inactivity.
Covington, who fights out of MMA Masters and carries a professional record of 17-5, last stepped into the cage against Joaquin Buckley in 2024, suffering a stoppage loss. The removal continues a difficult run for "Chaos," who now finds himself without a ranking for the first time in years. He stands five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach and has built much of his reputation on relentless wrestling pressure, averaging 3.64 takedown attempts per 15 minutes across his UFC career. Despite the rankings cut, Covington is reported to be scheduled to compete under the RAF promotion banner.
Buckley, the man responsible for Covington's most recent defeat, currently sits at number 11 in the welterweight division with a record of 21-8. The 32-year-old southpaw out of Murcielago MMA stands five-foot-ten with a 76-inch reach and lands 3.88 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the more dangerous finishers in the 170-pound weight class.
Off the canvas, Covington remains entangled in legal matters, currently involved in an ongoing lawsuit with former training partner Jorge Masvidal. Masvidal, 41, holds a record of 35-17 and competes out of American Top Team, landing 4.05 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy throughout his career.
Why it matters
- The UFC routinely purges inactive fighters from rankings to keep divisional standings meaningful and current.
- Covington's removal opens space for active welterweights to climb, reshuffling the landscape at 170 pounds.
- His planned appearance in the RAF promotion raises questions about his standing with the UFC going forward.
- The ongoing legal dispute with Masvidal adds an off-cage dimension that continues to surround both fighters.
