How UFC Rankings Work And Who Decides It (Explained)

The UFC rankings influence everything from fighter paydays to title bouts, with over $1.3 billion in revenue (2023) riding on these numbered lists.

Yet, most fight fans scratching their heads over how Alex Pereira dropped from #2 to #3 pound-for-pound.

So, actually, who decides these rankings?

Let’s break down exactly how UFC rankings work and who holds the power to make these career-defining decisions.

How UFC Rankings Work

Before diving into how the UFC rankings work, let’s start with what they actually are. UFC rankings are an evaluation system introduced in February 2013 to categorize fighters based on their performances.

They help fans, fighters, and the organization itself determine who the top competitors are across various weight classes and pound-for-pound.

The rankings influence matchups, title shots, and even contract negotiations, making them a vital part of the UFC landscape.

Here’s everything you need to know about UFC rankings:

What Are UFC Rankings (Complete Division System)

UFC rankings are official lists that showcase the top 15 fighters in each weight division plus separate pound-for-pound rankings for both men and women.

Think of them as power rankings that tell you exactly where a fighter stands in their division and how close they are to a title shot.

Every UFC weight division has its own ranking system with:

Here are all the current UFC divisions and their weight limits:

Men’s Divisions:

Women’s Divisions:

Understanding Division Rankings

In each division, rankings work like this:

Pound-for-Pound Rankings

The UFC also maintains special pound-for-pound rankings that try to answer one question: “Who are the best fighters regardless of weight class?” As Joe Rogan recently explained, “Pound for pound is so subjective, it’s so weird. But it’s like Jon Jones or Islam, you could say Islam you could say Jon Jones, I see both arguments.”

These rankings include:

Check out all the rankings here.

All champions are eligible for pound-for-pound rankings, unlike division rankings, where champions automatically hold the top spot.

This is why you’ll often see heated debates about who deserves to be #1 pound-for-pound, like the recent controversy between Jon Jones and Islam Makhachev.

The Ranking Process

A voting panel of media members determines the rankings. Currently, 21 media outlets participate in this process.

As Joe Rogan explains, “Based on who’s winning it’s voted on. It’s based on the experts, [they] are deciding, like the press… They’re the best rankings we currently have available and most people agree on them. They’re very close to what I would say are accurate. I only very rarely disagree with the rankings.”

UFC’s official site says, “Rankings were generated by a voting panel made up of media members. The media members were asked to vote for who they feel are the top fighters in the UFC by weight-class and pound-for-pound. A fighter is only eligible to be voted on if they are in active status in the UFC.”

The voting panel consists of representatives from various media outlets, including:

Panelists are tasked with voting for the top fighters in each division, as well as the pound-for-pound category. Fighters are ranked based on a combination of criteria, such as recent performances, strength of opponents, nature of victories, and overall career achievements.

Here’s how the ranking process works step by step:

1. Weekly Voting: After every UFC event, panelists rank fighters across all divisions.
2. Weight Classes and Pound-for-Pound: Fighters are categorized into their specific divisions, with separate pound-for-pound rankings for men and women. These rankings aim to compare fighters across different weight classes based on skill and dominance.
3. Aggregation: Votes from all panelists are aggregated to determine the final rankings for each weight class and the P4P list.

What Criteria Do Panelists Use?

Panelists are instructed to rank fighters based on a variety of factors:

Who Is Eligible for Rankings?

Not all fighters are eligible to be ranked. The system has specific rules:

Joe Rogan’s Perspective

UFC commentator Joe Rogan has spoken about the ranking system, offering insights into its strengths and weaknesses.

On his podcast, Rogan explained:

Rogan also highlighted that pound-for-pound rankings are inherently subjective because they attempt to compare fighters across different weight classes—a challenging task given fighters’ varied styles and physical attributes.

The UFC rankings system has been criticized for lacking transparency and consistency. One issue is the unclear criteria for handling inactive fighters.

For instance:

Another criticism revolves around the qualifications of some panel members. While outlets like MMA Weekly and Wrestling Observer have long-standing MMA coverage, others, such as local radio stations or obscure websites, raise questions about the panel’s credibility.

So why does Dana White makes their own rankings? Well here’s what he thinks:

Some media members reportedly vote inconsistently or may be influenced by external factors.

What Fans Think About UFC Rankings (The Community Perspective)

UFC rankings have sparked intense debate among fans and experts alike, particularly around their credibility and fairness.

Let’s look at what the MMA community thinks about the current ranking system:

Main Criticisms from Fans

The biggest complaint from the MMA community is about who decides the rankings. As hardcore fans point out, having media members vote on rankings is problematic because:

Real Examples of Fan Concerns

Recent rankings controversies highlight these issues:

What Fans Want Instead

The community has suggested several alternatives:

As one prominent fan voice noted: “These rankings need to be changed. Media members should not be voting for who’s ranking. I mean, they’re probably one of the most unqualified people to do that.”

This sentiment echoes throughout the MMA community, showing a clear desire for reform in how UFC determines its rankings.