Colby Covington is no longer in the UFC welterweight top 15. The change comes as two new fighters, Mike Malott and Yaroslav Amosov, were added to the rankings.
Rankings change
The UFC updated its 170-pound rankings and removed Covington from the list for the first time since 2017. The move ends a long debate about whether Covington should stay ranked while he has been largely inactive in the promotion.
Mike Malott and Yaroslav Amosov entered the welterweight top 15 in this update, pushing Covington out of the group.
Recent fights and inactivity
Covington’s most recent UFC fight was a TKO loss to Joaquín Buckley in December 2024. His last UFC win came in March 2022, when he beat Jorge Masvidal.
UFC CEO Dana White had called it odd in January that Covington remained ranked after fighting only once per year between 2020 and 2024. That limited activity played a big role in the decision to remove him.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Colby Covington | TKO loss to Joaquín Buckley (December 2024) |
| Joaquín Buckley | TKO win over Colby Covington (December 2024) |
| Jorge Masvidal | Loss to Colby Covington (March 2022) |
| Dillon Danis | Defeated by Colby Covington (Real American Freestyle, earlier this year) |
| Mike Malott | Entered UFC top 15 |
| Yaroslav Amosov | Entered UFC top 15 |
Covington’s response and outside fighting
Covington pushed back on critics earlier this year. He told reporters: “It really doesn’t matter what Dana White thinks of me. I’m a world champion. I’m Donald Trump’s favorite fighter. I’m America’s champion. I’m the king of Miami. You can never take those titles away from me. Take me out of those rankings, but whatever, I’m still the biggest draw at welterweight. It makes no difference what number is next to my name. I know what I’m capable of, and I know I’m still the best fighter and wrestler on planet Earth.”
He has fought outside the UFC. Earlier this year he competed in Real American Freestyle and beat Dillon Danis by technical fall. He is also expected to headline RAF 09 on May 30 in Dallas.
Next steps
Covington did not appear on the UFC Freedom 250 card at the White House on June 14, a spot he reportedly wanted. There are no announced plans yet for his return to the UFC Octagon.
The ranking change shows the welterweight division is moving, with active fighters rising and inactive names dropping away. Fans and fighters will watch closely to see if Covington returns to the UFC or continues to compete in other events.
