Dana White, like many fighters, is frustrated with the current UFC fighter rankings. The rankings in each weight class have become a source of controversy, with winners not advancing towards title shots, losers staying in the title picture, and inactive fighters maintaining their position. This has prompted Dana White to speak out against those responsible for the rankings during a recent interview.
In the interview with Kevin Iole, White expressed his dissatisfaction with the rankings, pointing out discrepancies such as Khamzat Chimaev being ranked number 12 while Max Holloway is at number 10, despite Chimaev knocking out the number 3 ranked fighter, Justin Gaethje.
The controversy surrounding the rankings was further highlighted by Renato Moicano’s dominant victory over Benoit Saint Denis at UFC Paris, where Moicano did not see a significant advancement in the rankings despite his impressive performance.
If UFC Rankings Aren’t Total Bullshit, I Should Be Ranked #6 in the Lightweight Division Tomorrow. Why? In the last 8 months, I’ve fought 3 times and I’m on a 6-fight win streak in the lightweight division, with 5 stoppages. Yet, ranked above me are:
— Renato Moicano UFC (@moicanoufc) October 1, 2024
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White sympathized with Moicano’s frustrations and hinted at a future solution to the rankings problem. He mentioned introducing AI technology to handle the rankings, removing the influence of individuals who lack knowledge about the sport and ensuring a more accurate and fair system.
White expressed his confidence in the potential of AI to address the issues in the rankings and expressed his willingness to implement this technology to improve the current system.
“I could go through this [rankings] board for a f***ing hour with you about the rankings and the MMA media,” said White, emphasizing the need for a more reliable and transparent rankings system.
