In this study, attapulgite (ATP) nanofibers were modified by hydrotalcite-like cobalt-nickel via hydrothermal (named ATP-CoNi(H)) and co-precipitation (named ATP-CoNi(C)) method, respectively. The morphology and the composition of the ATP-CoNi hybrids were investigated. Meanwhile, the fretting wear properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)-based composites reinforced by ATP and two kinds of ATP-CoNi hybrids at 2 wt% content were investigated. The results show that ATP-CoNi hybrids exhibit better fretting wear properties than pure ATP in the UHMWPE matrix. Thereinto, the ATP-CoNi(C) nanofibers present the best antifriction property that the friction coefficient and wear volume severally decreased by 27% and 47%. It is attributed to the optimal interfacial bonding between the nanofibers and the matrix, which makes the dense structure of the composite.