Colby Covington has been removed from the UFC welterweight rankings due to lack of activity. Covington's last fight was against Joaquin Buckley in 2024, which he lost by stoppage. Since that defeat, Covington has not competed in the UFC octagon. He has been involved in a lawsuit with Jorge Masvidal and has made appearances fighting for the RAF promotion instead. The UFC typically removes fighters from rankings after extended periods of inactivity. Covington's removal reflects the promotion's policy of keeping rankings current with active competitors. No timeline for Covington's potential UFC return was mentioned.
Colby Covington has been dropped from the UFC welterweight rankings, with the promotion removing the 38-year-old from the divisional standings due to an extended stretch of inactivity in the octagon.
Covington, who fights out of MMA Masters and carries a professional record of 17-5, last competed in the UFC against Joaquin Buckley in 2024, suffering a stoppage loss. Since that defeat, the orthodox striker — known for one of the higher takedown rates in the welterweight division at 3.64 attempts per 15 minutes — has not returned to the octagon under the UFC banner. Instead, Covington has made appearances for the RAF promotion and has been entangled in a legal dispute with Jorge Masvidal.
Buckley, the fighter who handed Covington his most recent loss, currently sits at number 11 in the welterweight rankings with a record of 21-8. The 32-year-old southpaw out of Murcielago MMA has built a reputation as a dangerous striker, averaging 3.88 significant strikes per minute and carrying a 76-inch reach.
Masvidal, the 41-year-old veteran at the center of Covington's ongoing lawsuit, holds a record of 35-17 and continues to be linked to the situation off-competition.
Why it matters
- Covington's removal reflects the UFC's standard policy of keeping rankings populated with active competitors, clearing space for fighters who are competing regularly.
- His absence leaves the welterweight division's upper tier reshuffling without one of its more prominent recent names.
- With no return timeline disclosed, Covington's path back into divisional relevance remains uncertain.
