UFC rankings Joke or disgrace?

[Zeph]

http://www.ufc.com/rankings

Bantamweight

7	Eddie Wineland
8	Johnny Eduardo

10	Iuri Alcantara
12	Frankie Saenz

Welterweight

10	Jake Ellenberger 1
11	Kelvin Gastelum 2

Women's Bantamweight

11	Jessica Andrade
12	Marion Reneau 2

What do these rankings have in common? The person ranked below the other is the person who recently beat them, handily. How can the UFC use this 'system' to hand out fighter pay is beyond belief. Every ranking they put out has problems like this and the UFC don't seem to even acknowledge the problem or have they? Has anyone seen any statements from the UFC, which acknowledge the problem and that they will look into solutions?

 

[dacofty]

I agree, they shouldnt call it ranking, but more like the UFC popularity chart scored by those who the UFC control. Who are the people that make up these rankings? Is there a committee or does Dirt and Swole sit around picking names? I can see a serious problem when one gets beat yet continues to make for from the doomed reebok deal than the one beating them.

 

[Dr Steve]

I have always felt sherdog does a much better job objectively ranking fighters but theirs are not perfect either. UFCs rankings are an absolute joke, guys are just ranked based on the UFCs agenda on who they want to push to the top and try to justify setting up title shots for certain fighters

 

[Hired Gun]

I totally disagree with the way they are doing their rankings. It is gonna screw fighters out of so much money due to the bullshit Reebok deal. It should be done with people not associated with Zuffa in any way shape or form.

 

[Zeph]

The only solution I can see is having an independent ranking foundation, but it would have to funded by someone and that someone is the UFC. If they are then paying the salaries, how do you ensure they stay independent? Perhaps some sort appointed post that can't be removed? Or elected by the MMA media for a set term? Or perhaps a popular vote?

 

[Hired Gun]

Have legit media people vote on it and not tell Zuffa who voted for whom. Only way it can be fair with zero backlash from Zuffa as we have seen them do in the past.

 

[ECC170]

We sbould do rankings

 

[Shy Guy]

We sbould do rankings

I agree...we should.


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[Greek777]

I agree, our own rankings would be cool IMO.

UFC's rankings make no sense to me. I always thought Sherdog's was the best also. MMA needs an objective site like the Ring for boxing (well before GB bought them) to list unbiased rankings based solely on skill and deserving the spots...

 

[Wild]

I agree...we should.


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Cool idea. Let's kick around some ideas of how we make this happen!

 

[Zeph]

Have legit media people vote on it and not tell Zuffa who voted for whom. Only way it can be fair with zero backlash from Zuffa as we have seen them do in the past.

Legit media people won't vote because it is tied to peoples incomes. Conflict of interest, in their opinions.

 

[Zeph]

Cool idea. Let's kick around some ideas of how we make this happen!

A panel of x number of members voted in by popular vote for x long terms? Perhaps term limits like the US? Say after a certain number of terms you would have to sit out for that number of terms, that way it wouldn't become some sort of old boys club?

 

[D241]

Very legit point out OP. I don't know what the solution is, but no doubt there's a problem, or a discrepancy at the very least.

 

[Hired Gun]

It can be done. Take Shooto for example. The Commission votes on rankings. If a fighter thinks he should be ranked higher he can appeal the rankings, have a quick hearing letting him state his case. Commission votes at the hearing on whether he should be ranked higher or not from the evidence provided. I know this works because I worked for Shooto for several yrs. You could do the same with an independent panel. You have ten to twenty people that are involved with mma on a daily bases and let them vote once a month. A fighter can have one appeal per calender yr. The appeal would be handled within one week of filing.
Panel members votes are kept confidential from the fighter as well as Zuffa. Zuffa and all fighters under contract agree to abide by all rankings and said rulings.

 

[dhughes]

It was a joke before it got tied to fighters' bank accounts. This now becomes another handle of control that Zuffa can exercise and leverage to their own advantages and agendas - a way to punish or reward fighters beyond the control of a set contract.

 

[Hired Gun]

It was a joke before it got tied to fighters' bank accounts. This now becomes another handle of control that Zuffa can exercise and leverage to their own advantages and agendas - a way to punish or reward fighters beyond the control of a set contract.

Exactly, certain fighter that Zuffa can't cut because of winning fights will be screwed by them money wise

 

[ECC170]

Id be down to help with rankings.

 

[Wild]

Id be down to help with rankings.

We need to figure this shit out. A voting system, due every week by the members, or something.


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[ECC170]

Sounds like a plan Stan..Fight Matrix is so sick..they are my fav ranking system

 

[D241]

It can be done. Take Shooto for example. The Commission votes on rankings. If a fighter thinks he should be ranked higher he can appeal the rankings, have a quick hearing letting him state his case. Commission votes at the hearing on whether he should be ranked higher or not from the evidence provided. I know this works because I worked for Shooto for several yrs. You could do the same with an independent panel. You have ten to twenty people that are involved with mma on a daily bases and let them vote once a month. A fighter can have one appeal per calender yr. The appeal would be handled within one week of filing.
Panel members votes are kept confidential from the fighter as well as Zuffa. Zuffa and all fighters under contract agree to abide by all rankings and said rulings.

Very good solution. Great feedback Hired Gun.

 

[dacofty]

If you beat a fighter higher ranked then you, there is no clear cut way around the fact that you move up and they move down. The UFC has an agenda for their rankings, meathead even said he had no clue who did the rankings. Im sure is dirt, swole and silva

 

[Priziesthorse]

You can see all the media members that vote on rankings and each of their individual rankings here...

http://www.ufc.com/rankingsdetail

 

[BenAskrensStrikingcoach]

It was a joke before it got tied to fighters' bank accounts. This now becomes another handle of control that Zuffa can exercise and leverage to their own advantages and agendas - a way to punish or reward fighters beyond the control of a set contract.

Exactly man , did anyone really give a shit about this ranking system at all before the sponsorship deal, worst one out there.


There is only one way to look at this rankings system, either its a UFC popularity chart or it is a legit rankings system, it cannot be both, that shit doesn't work.

Too much control either way, not good. The UFC needs to get the fuck out of the middle and let Reebok approach the fighters directly with contracts to the value of their average sponsorship deals before hand and based on their popularity and exposure going forward, a guy on the way down that generates big interest can still make a good slice on sponsorship money regardless of his rankings.