For the first time since February 2013, the UFC is transitioning to a data-driven system that grades performance rather than using the media ranking system.
The UFC's ranking system was determined by a panel of media members. Following each event, media members would submit their vote for athletes and pound-for-pound rankings.
It was designed to provide an assessment of each division, rather than rankings determined directly by the UFC.
The UFC announced on June 22, 2026, that they are integrating a new rankings system called Meta UFC Rankings.
Key Features of the New UFC Ranking System
Data-Driven: Ratings are mathematically calculated by an algorithm co-developed with Meta.
Activity: Athletes will receive boosts for staying active, while penalties apply if an athlete is inactive for 18 months.
No Human Bias: The rankings are no longer determined by subjective human voting.
No Pound-for-Pound Ranks: This category relied on human opinions and the new system prioritizes measurable data.
Important Factors
While winning is an important factor, it is not the sole consideration. The new ranking system does not value all wins and losses equally, it takes the opponent into consideration.
Defeating a higher-ranked opponent carries more weight than defeated a lower-ranked one. Wins and strength of opponent will make up roughly 95% of an athletes rating.
The system also values recency, encouraging athletes to step back into the Octagon more frequently. Wins carry more weight for athletes who compete and win more often than those relying on a past legacy bout.
This new mathematical system will help provide the most accurate rankings and a benchmark for comparing UFC athletes.
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