Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC rankings due to a lack of activity. His last fight was a knockout loss to Joaquin Buckley in 2024, and he has not competed since. Despite being removed from the rankings, Covington remains active outside the octagon, currently involved in a lawsuit with Jorge Masvidal and scheduled to compete in RAF. The UFC routinely removes fighters from rankings after extended periods of inactivity.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the UFC's official welterweight rankings following an extended period of inactivity, the promotion confirmed ahead of its April 21 update.
Covington, 38, last competed in 2024, suffering a knockout loss to Joaquin Buckley that snapped his run as one of the division's most recognizable names. The American fighter out of MMA Masters carries a professional record of 17-5 and built his reputation largely on elite wrestling, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach, "Chaos" was once a perennial title contender at 170 pounds.
The man who finished him, Joaquin Buckley, currently sits ranked 11th in the welterweight division with a record of 21-8. The 32-year-old southpaw from the United States trains out of Murcielago MMA and has developed into one of the more dangerous strikers in the weight class, landing 3.88 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach that gives opponents trouble at range.
The UFC applies its inactivity policy routinely, removing fighters from rankings when they have not competed within a defined window regardless of their previous status in the division.
Covington remains publicly active outside competition. He is currently involved in a lawsuit against former training partner Jorge Masvidal and is scheduled to compete in RAF, keeping him in the public eye despite his absence from the octagon.
Why it matters
- Covington's removal opens a rankings slot in an already competitive welterweight division
- His exit reflects the UFC's standard inactivity policy applied consistently across all ranks
- The style contrast between Covington's wrestling-heavy approach and Buckley's striking power made their 2024 finish a notable result that now carries added weight
