UFC announces game‑changing rankings overhaul following Dana White’s explosive rant

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There’s a new UFC rankings system on the way, and it’s said to be a move away from the usual popularity contests.

Last year, Dana White reached his limit with how rankings were being handled, telling reporters: “I can’t take it anymore.”

He wasn’t a fan of the media panel that voted on them, but he also didn’t think those decisions should be left to the UFC either.

After suggestions that Mark Zuckerberg could step in to address White’s concerns, the promotion has now confirmed that some changes are coming.

The approach is meant to put more focus on performance inside the cage, rather than external factors like hype or social media presence.

UFC Vegas 118 broadcast reveals performance-based rankings system

An announcement came during the broadcast, before Belal Muhammad’s main event loss at UFC Vegas 118, about a significant change coming to the sport.

Brendan Fitzgerald shared news of the promotion’s new ranking system that will look to evaluate fighters solely on their in-cage performances. Specifics like the rollout date were left out, but it’s clear the UFC is moving forward with plans to address ongoing complaints about how rankings are currently handled.

Fitzgerald explained: “A new UFC rankings system is currently being developed that will focus on measurable performance, not opinion, not popularity.”

“By evaluating who you beat, the strength of competition, activity and consistency. The system is being designed to reward performance and better reflect results inside the Octagon. We’ll have more details on that coming soon.”

The UFC isn’t alone in trying to fix ranking issues. Other platforms like Tapology have also introduced updates in recent years. The MMA database now includes a tool that evaluates a fighter’s schedule strength by analysing their last six opponents.

This gives each schedule a score between one and 99, reflecting how tough their recent competition has been. As Fitzgerald mentioned during the broadcast, further updates are expected as this new rankings approach takes shape.