Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC welterweight rankings due to lack of activity. His last fight was a loss to Joaquin Buckley in 2024, where he was finished. Since then, Covington has not competed in the octagon. He is currently involved in a lawsuit with Jorge Masvidal and has made an appearance in RAF. The UFC typically removes fighters from rankings after extended periods of inactivity. This opens up a spot in the top 15 welterweight rankings.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the UFC welterweight top 15, the promotion removing "Chaos" from the divisional rankings as a result of prolonged inactivity following his 2024 defeat to Joaquin Buckley.
Covington, 38, carries a professional record of 17-5 and competes out of MMA Masters. The Oregon native built his reputation as one of welterweight's most relentless pressure fighters, averaging 3.81 significant strikes landed per minute and an elite 3.64 takedown attempts per 15 minutes. His loss to Buckley, which ended in a finish, marked the last time he appeared inside the octagon. Beyond his competitive absence, Covington is currently involved in a legal dispute with Jorge Masvidal and has made an appearance in RAF, keeping his name in headlines without returning to active competition.
Joaquin Buckley, the man who handed Covington that most recent defeat, sits at number 11 in the welterweight rankings 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 averages 3.88 significant strikes per minute. The finish over Covington was among the more notable results of Buckley's rise through the division.
Jorge Masvidal, 41, holds a record of 35-17 and is connected to this story through his ongoing lawsuit with Covington. "Gamebred" operates out of American Top Team, stands five-foot-eleven, and carries a 74-inch reach, averaging 4.05 significant strikes landed per minute across his career.
Why it matters
- Covington's removal opens a spot in the welterweight top 15, creating movement for contenders on the division's fringe.
- The vacancy adds urgency to upcoming welterweight bouts where rankings positioning is at stake.
- With no confirmed return date for Covington, the spot is unlikely to be reclaimed in the near term under standard UFC inactivity policy.
