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 via stoppage. Since that defeat, Covington has not competed in the UFC, leading to his removal from the official rankings. Despite his absence from UFC competition, Covington has been involved in other activities including a lawsuit with Jorge Masvidal and an appearance at the RAF promotion. Removal from rankings is standard UFC procedure for fighters who remain inactive for extended periods. This development raises questions about whether Covington will return to active competition or continue pursuing ventures outside the octagon.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the UFC's official welterweight rankings, the promotion confirming his removal as a result of an extended period without competition.
Covington, 38, carries a professional record of 17-5 and built his reputation as one of the welterweight division's most relentless pressure fighters out of MMA Masters. Known by the nickname "Chaos," he brings a high-volume wrestling-based style to the octagon, averaging 3.64 takedown attempts per 15 minutes — among the highest rates in the division. His last appearance inside the octagon came in 2024, when he suffered a stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley, a defeat that has since gone unaddressed with no follow-up bout.
Buckley, 32 and ranked 11th in the welterweight division, holds a record of 21-8 and fights out of Murcielago MMA. The southpaw from the United States carries a 76-inch reach and averages 3.88 significant strikes per minute, and the stoppage victory over Covington stands as a notable addition to his résumé.
In the period since that loss, Covington has remained outside competition while pursuing other matters, including a lawsuit involving fellow welterweight Jorge Masvidal and an appearance at the RAF promotion. Masvidal, 41, holds a record of 35-17 and fights out of American Top Team.
Why it matters
- Covington's removal is standard UFC procedure for fighters inactive over an extended period, but it formally signals the end of his ranked status after years near the top of the welterweight division.
- His absence creates a vacancy in the rankings that active welterweights below him can move into.
- Whether Covington pursues a return to UFC competition or continues activities outside the organization remains an open question following the delisting.
