UFC signals overhaul of ranking system to fix long-standing flaws

The UFC has announced plans to introduce a new ranking system designed to address the shortcomings of its current model.

During the broadcast of UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs. Bonfim, held Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, commentator Brendan Fitzgerald said a new UFC system based on measurable performance is currently in development.

UFC President Dana White had already publicly criticized the existing ranking system as unfair at an event in October 2024, pledging to improve it. The UFC does not assign rankings itself but delegates the task to a panel of media members and industry insiders, whose votes it then reflects in the official standings.

Specific details of the new system have not yet been disclosed. Fitzgerald said during the broadcast that it "won't be driven by opinion or popularity," adding that it is being designed to reward performance and better reflect results inside the Octagon by factoring in opponent quality, competitive intensity, activity level and consistency.

The current system operates much like a popularity contest or an MVP vote in other sports — fighters are assigned initial rankings based largely on name recognition, and when two ranked fighters meet, the winner and loser simply swap positions. Under this model, a fighter ranked fifth in the featherweight division who defeats the No. 12 contender in dominant fashion sees no movement in the standings.

Conversely, a loss means surrendering one's ranking to the opponent. The system gives higher-ranked fighters little incentive to take on lower-ranked opponents, and fighters who go long stretches without competing can retain their rankings without penalty — a dynamic widely seen as unreasonable.

Many fighters, including former double champion Jon Jones and Renato Moicano, have voiced frustration with the current system. Third-party ranking services such as Fight Matrix have drawn more credibility among fans precisely because the official standings are seen as unreliable.

The UFC's slow response to known flaws has drawn criticism. The current ranking panel has gone without a membership update since 2013, when the UFC first assembled it — a sign of how opaque the process has become.

Earlier reports had suggested the UFC was exploring partnerships with IBM and Meta to build the new system. With the latest update coming directly from a broadcast commentator, the new rankings could arrive as soon as next year.