Colby Covington’s recent return to competition has reignited a fiery debate in the MMA world: Does he still deserve his spot in the UFC rankings? After a prolonged absence and a string of losses, the former interim welterweight champion stepped onto the wrestling mats this past Saturday, facing off against ex-UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite not securing a UFC win since 2022, Covington remains ranked 14th in the welterweight division—a fact even UFC president Dana White called ‘strange.’
Let’s rewind a bit. Since his second defeat to Kamaru Usman, the 37-year-old Covington has undeniably shown signs of decline, dropping two out of his last three fights. His final UFC bout in December 2024 ended in a brutal loss to Joaquin Buckley, seemingly closing the door on his undisputed title aspirations. Yet, Covington’s recent wrestling victory over Rockhold—a 12-0 technical fall win—marked his first competitive triumph since 2022, when he defeated Jorge Masvidal. For a fighter who began his career in wrestling, this win felt like a return to roots, but it also raises questions about his future in the UFC.
And this is the part most people miss: Dana White, during a Barstool Sports interview, openly questioned Covington’s ranking, admitting, ‘I don’t know how he’s still ranked.’ White has long been critical of the UFC rankings system, even vowing to overhaul it with Mark Zuckerberg’s help. So, when Covington was asked to respond to White’s comments, his answer was as bold as ever: ‘It doesn’t matter what Dana White thinks of me. I’m a world champion, Donald Trump’s favorite fighter, America’s champion, the king of Miami. You could never take those titles away from me.’
Covington’s confidence is undeniable, but the reality is stark. At 37, with waning popularity in the UFC and success outside the promotion in Real American Freestyle, it’s unclear if ‘Chaos’ will ever step back into the Octagon. Will he choose the mats over the cage? Or does he still have what it takes to compete at the highest level in MMA?
Here’s the burning question: Should Colby Covington retire from the UFC, or does he deserve another shot to prove himself? And more controversially, is Dana White right to question the rankings system, or is Covington’s legacy enough to justify his place? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this debate is far from over.
