Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC welterweight rankings due to a lack of fights. His most recent bout was against Ian Machado Garry in 2024, which he lost by finish. Despite being removed from the rankings, Covington has remained active outside the octagon, currently involved in a lawsuit with Jorge Masvidal and making appearances at Eagle Fighting Championship events. The UFC typically removes fighters from rankings after extended periods of inactivity to keep the rankings current and reflective of active competitors.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the UFC welterweight rankings, the promotion confirming his removal due to an extended stretch without a fight.
Covington, 38, carries a professional record of 17 wins and 5 losses and had long been one of the most recognizable names at 170 pounds. Fighting out of MMA Masters, the orthodox striker stands five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach and has built his career around relentless pressure and elite wrestling, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes. His last appearance inside the octagon came in 2024, when he suffered a finish loss to Ian Machado Garry — a defeat that ended what had already been a quiet stretch of activity. With no fight booked since, the UFC exercised its standard policy of removing inactive fighters to keep the rankings reflective of competitors who are actually competing.
Away from the cage, Covington has stayed visible through other channels. He has been making appearances at Eagle Fighting Championship events and remains entangled in a legal dispute with fellow welterweight veteran Jorge Masvidal. Masvidal, 41, holds a 35-17-0 record and fights out of American Top Team. The orthodox fighter stands five-foot-eleven with a 74-inch reach and has averaged 4.05 significant strikes landed per minute over his career, with a striking accuracy of 47 percent.
Why it matters
- Covington's removal opens space in a welterweight rankings picture that is already in flux following recent title activity.
- His absence from the rankings does not prevent a future return, but a comeback fight would likely need to serve as a re-entry point rather than a direct title push.
- The ongoing lawsuit with Masvidal adds an off-cage dimension to Covington's situation that could influence his near-term focus and availability.
