UFC Rankings Controversy: Advice sheets and suggestions given to panelists
Ant Walker and Patrick Auger discuss the revelation that UFC rankings panelists are given a “Rankings Brief” sheet containing suggestions and advice regarding how to rank fighters after a win or loss at every UFC event.
Eric Kowal of MyMMANews released the information on Twitter, sharing an image that contained information about the “upside” and “downside” potential of Josh Emmett and Shane Burgos depending on the result of their fight at UFC on
For example, the downside for Burgos stated that: “Although it may seem harsh, with a loss here, Burgos could be removed from the featherweight rankings. He would be just 3-2 in his last 5 with his best win coming against Cub Swanson. In that time, current #16 Bryce Mitchell is 4-0 with his best win being over Charles Rosa, who at this stage of his career is not a huge step down from Swanson. Given that fact, Mitchell’s better recent record would give him a better claim to the ranking spot. It’s also worth noting that #11-15 also have impressive recent records with each having a winning streak of at least 4 (with the exception of Jose Aldo whose resume speaks for itself)”
Patrick reveals that mixedmartialarts.com is responsible for compiling the “Rankings Brief.”
While it is clear that these are merely suggestions, it raises some questions about the current structure of the UFC rankings panel and whether the system truly serves its purpose. Ant and Patrick answer those questions here.
If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure to hit the subscribe button and stick around for more content like this.