Former UFC welterweight title challenger Colby Covington has been removed from the official UFC rankings due to prolonged inactivity. Covington last fought in 2024 when he lost by stoppage to Joaquin Buckley. Since that defeat, Covington has not competed in the UFC octagon. Instead, he has been involved in a legal dispute with Jorge Masvidal and has made appearances for the RAF promotion. The UFC typically removes fighters from rankings after extended periods without booking a fight. Covington remains under contract with the UFC but has not announced any upcoming fights. His removal from the rankings may impact his positioning for future title contention in the welterweight division.
Colby Covington has been stripped of his place in the official UFC welterweight rankings, with the promotion removing the 38-year-old from its rankings due to prolonged inactivity.
Covington, nicknamed "Chaos," carries a professional record of 17-5 and had been one of the most prominent figures in the 170-pound division over recent years. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach, the MMA Masters representative is known for his relentless pressure and elite wrestling, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. His last octagon appearance came in 2024, when he suffered a stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley — a defeat that has been followed by an extended absence from competition.
Buckley, ranked eleventh in the welterweight division, holds a record of 21-8 and earned that victory as a southpaw striker operating out of Murcielago MMA. The 32-year-old lands 3.88 significant strikes per minute and carries a 76-inch reach that gives him a considerable physical advantage over many opponents at 170 pounds.
Since the Buckley defeat, Covington has not been booked for another UFC contest. He has been involved in a legal dispute with former training partner Jorge Masvidal and has made appearances for the RAF promotion. Masvidal, the 41-year-old "Gamebred" veteran from American Top Team, holds a record of 35-17.
Why it matters
- Covington's removal ends his ranked status in a welterweight division actively reshaping its contender landscape.
- Any future path toward title contention would likely require him to re-enter the rankings through a return to competition.
- His continued UFC contract status leaves the door open for a booking, but no fight has been announced.
