Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC rankings due to lack of fights. His last bout was against Joaquin Buckley in 2024, which he lost via stoppage. Despite being removed from official rankings, Covington remains active in other ways, including a lawsuit against Jorge Masvidal and appearances for the RAF promotion. The removal highlights the UFC's policy of delisting fighters who remain inactive for extended periods.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the UFC's official welterweight rankings after an extended stretch away from competition, the promotion confirming its standard policy of removing fighters who go inactive for prolonged periods.
Covington, 38, carries a professional record of 17-5 and built his reputation as one of the welterweight division's most relentless pressers, averaging 3.81 significant strikes per minute and an elite 3.64 takedown attempts per 15 minutes throughout his career. Known as "Chaos," the American fought out of MMA Masters and reached the heights of title contention, but his most recent octagon appearance ended in a stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley in 2024. That defeat proved to be his last, and the prolonged absence that followed has now cost him his ranked position.
Buckley, 32, currently sits at number 11 in the welterweight division with a record of 21-8. The southpaw out of Murcielago MMA stands five-foot-ten with a 76-inch reach and has established himself as a genuine threat in the 170-pound weight class, landing 3.88 significant strikes per minute.
Away from the cage, Covington has remained visible through other channels. He is involved in an ongoing lawsuit against former teammate Jorge Masvidal and has made appearances for the RAF promotion. Masvidal, 41, holds a record of 35-17 and continues to be associated with American Top Team.
Why it matters
- Covington's removal opens a rankings spot and reshuffles the welterweight contender picture
- His absence since the Buckley loss underlines how quickly inactivity can erode a fighter's standing under UFC policy
- A potential return would require Covington to rebuild his ranking position from outside the official top 15
