Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC rankings due to a lack of fights. His last bout was against Joaquin Buckley in 2024, which he lost by stoppage. Since that defeat, Covington has not competed in the UFC. The post notes that while Covington is not fighting in the UFC, he is currently involved in a lawsuit with Jorge Masvidal and has been participating in events for the RAF promotion. Being removed from the rankings is a standard UFC practice for fighters who remain inactive for extended periods. This development raises questions about Covington's future in the UFC.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the UFC's official welterweight rankings after an extended period of inactivity, the promotion confirmed on April 21, 2026.
Covington, 38, carries a professional record of 17-5 and built his reputation as one of the division's elite wrestlers, averaging 3.64 takedown attempts per 15 minutes across his career. The American, who trains out of MMA Masters and fights out of an orthodox stance, last stepped into the octagon against Joaquin Buckley in 2024 and was stopped in that contest. He has not competed in the UFC since. Beyond his absence from competition, Covington is currently involved in an ongoing lawsuit with fellow welterweight Jorge Masvidal, and he has been taking part in events for the RAF promotion in the interim.
Buckley, the man who handed Covington that most recent defeat, holds an 21-8 record and sits at number 11 in the welterweight division. The 32-year-old southpaw from the United States trains with Murcielago MMA and possesses a 76-inch reach, averaging 3.88 significant strikes per minute.
Masvidal, 41, holds a 35-17 record and competes out of American Top Team. The orthodox striker lands 4.05 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy and remains one of the more recognizable names in the welterweight landscape.
Why it matters
- Covington's removal is standard UFC procedure for fighters inactive over an extended stretch, but it marks a symbolic fall for a former title contender.
- His absence from the rankings opens space for active welterweights pushing toward the division's top ten.
- With a pending legal matter involving Masvidal and activity outside the UFC, the timeline for any return to the promotion remains unclear.
