Report: Colby Covington cut from UFC in latest roster purge

Colby Covington has seemingly parted ways with the UFC.

On Monday afternoon, the automated X account UFC Roster Watch announced that Covington had been removed from the promotion. Given the account’s record of accuracy, we can trust that this is most likely true.

❌ Fighter removed: Colby Covington

— UFC Roster Watch (@UFCRosterWatch) May 18, 2026

Colby Covington spent years atop the UFC welterweight division

Covington, a career welterweight, has been part of the UFC roster since 2014. He notably captured the division’s interim title with a decision defeat of Rafael dos Anjos in 2018. He later fought three times for the undisputed belt, coming up short each time, first in a pair of wars with Kamaru Usman, and later against Leon Edwards. Other highlights of his time in the UFC include defeats of top fighters like Dong Hyun Kim, Demian Maia, Robbie Lawler, Tyron Woodley, and Jorge Masvidal. While he has struggled with consistency lately, having not fought since a 2024 stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley, his removal from the roster is a bit of a surprise, as he’s still a big name who can conceivably hang with all the but the division’s best fighters.

The good news for Covington is that he’s got options. Given his name value, there’s a good chance he’ll be invited to work with Most Valuable Promotion’s who promoted their first MMA event on Netflix last weekend, with names like Ronda Rousey, Mike Perry, Nate Diaz, and Francis Ngannou on the bill. Covington has also been involved with Real American Freestyle, a wrestling promotion, and will presumably get more matches with them if he desires.

Covington is not the only fighter to lose his job with the UFC in the latest roster purge. The promotion also cut women’s bantamweight veteran Mayra Bueno Silva and lightweight striker Brad Riddell.

What do you think is next for Colby Covington if his time in the UFC is really over?