Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC rankings due to lack of activity. His last fight was against Joaquin Buckley in 2024, which he lost by finish. Since then, Covington has not competed in the UFC octagon. Instead, he has been involved in a lawsuit with Jorge Masvidal and has competed in RAF (Russian promotion). The UFC typically removes fighters from rankings after extended periods of inactivity. Covington's removal marks a significant shift for the former welterweight title challenger who was once a fixture in the division's top rankings.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the UFC welterweight rankings, the promotion confirming his removal due to an extended stretch without an octagon appearance.
Covington, 38, carries a professional record of 17-5 and built his reputation as one of the most active grapplers in the welterweight division, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. Fighting out of MMA Masters, the orthodox striker from the United States was once a fixture near the top of the 170-pound rankings and a former title challenger. His last UFC appearance came in 2024, when he suffered a finish loss to Joaquin Buckley. Since that defeat he has not returned to compete under the UFC banner, instead becoming involved in a legal dispute with Jorge Masvidal and taking a fight in RAF, the Russian promotion.
Buckley, the man who handed Covington his most recent loss, is currently ranked 11th in the welterweight division at 32 years old. The southpaw out of Murcielago MMA holds a 21-8 record and owns a 76-inch reach, landing 3.88 significant strikes per minute. The finish of Covington proved to be a statement performance in the context of the division.
Masvidal, 41, the other figure central to Covington's recent off-cage activity, holds a 35-17 record fighting out of American Top Team. The ongoing lawsuit between the two former teammates has kept both men in the headlines for reasons beyond competition.
Why it matters
- Covington's removal clears a rankings spot in a welterweight division already in flux
- His absence since the Buckley finish now stretches beyond a year, prompting the standard UFC inactivity policy
- Any return to the UFC would likely require Covington to rebuild his ranking position from outside the top fifteen
