MONTREAL, QUEBEC – MAY 08: UFC President and CEO Dana White is seen on stage throughout the UFC 315 press convention at Bell Centre on Might 08, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photograph by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)Zuffa LLC
Tapology has simply left little doubt which fight sports activities web site sits atop the mountain. On Monday, the positioning launched a brand new rankings system that can instantly grow to be a reference level for the MMA world, and it’s already higher than the system the UFC makes use of that even Dana White admits is flawed.
As a journalist masking MMA for 15 years, I am personally ecstatic to see an official rating system with no human bias and one which after some deep examination has all of the rhyme and cause I have to consult with it repeatedly.
Tapology’s new proprietary rating system for fighters eliminates human subjectivity, media opinions, and fan voting. Instead of “vibes,” as Tapology founder Gregory Saks places it in an article by Ben Fowlkes of the Uncrowned, the brand new mannequin makes use of a data-driven algorithm to judge each energetic UFC fighter based mostly solely on efficiency metrics.
This technique, 5 years within the making, measures every fighter’s final six UFC bouts, making an allowance for energy of schedule, short-notice fights, and the standard of wins and losses.
Let’s take a look at the upcoming middleweight bout between Joe Pyfer and the UFC’s present No. 14 185-pounder, Abus Magomedov. It seems like Pyfer must be near being ranked, however as a result of the UFC’s rating system stops at No. 15, it’s arduous to understand how shut he’s to having a quantity subsequent to his identify–as Jon Anik would say.
Properly, in line with Tapology’s rankings, Magomedov is ranked No. 18 and it’s Pyfer with the upper rating at No. 16. What does this inform us–particularly those that are usually a slave to the UFC’s system? It tells us that is a good matchup and one that’s much more intriguing now than it was when it was first introduced.
The brand new rating system additionally introduces a brand new approach to take a look at upcoming occasions. We will use the rankings to see what number of High 50 fighters are set to compete. In response to Tapology, the upcoming UFC Combat Evening headlined by Roman Dolidze vs. Anthony Hernandez, has largely guys and women ranked within the High 50.
Particularly, all however 5 fighters set to compete are ranked inside the High 50 fighters on this planet of their weight class. That is partially deceiving contemplating a type of fighters is former males’s flyweight title challenger Steve Erceg. He is making his bantamweight debut in a bout in opposition to veteran Ode Osbourne. Erceg is definitely one of many 50-best bantamweights, however to the rating system’s credit score, he’ll must show it first.
As White has talked about, the UFC’s present system has room for human error as it’s vulnerable to bias and the inevitable prisoner-of-the-moment issue. This technique, whereas sure to have its critics, would not have those self same flaws. That is at the least refreshing. You must surprise if White will probably be requested about this in Chicago at UFC 319 or earlier than if somebody has the chance.
And if he’s requested, it’ll be attention-grabbing to see how he responds. Traditionally, White hasn’t shied away from acknowledging points along with his promotion’s personal rankings, as soon as calling them “a ache within the ass.” However he’s additionally identified to withstand exterior affect, particularly with regards to public-facing instruments not made in-house. Tapology’s unbiased framework may quietly achieve traction, even with out the UFC’s blessing, particularly if fighters begin referencing it for callouts and resume constructing. The extra it’s used to justify matchups or contender standing, the more durable will probably be to disregard.
It will even be attention-grabbing to see if real-life circumstances will affect an evolution of Tapology’s rating system. Take it from somebody who has tried to create their very own MMA metrics; you generally assume you’ve all the pieces accounted for after which one thing sudden occurs.
In any case, bravo Tapology.
