UFC scraps media voting to overhaul rankings with performance-based system

The UFC has announced plans to overhaul its rankings system, moving away from media member voting toward a model based on measurable performance data, with the news breaking during the UFC Vegas 118 broadcast at The Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday.

In a statement released alongside the announcement, the promotion outlined the philosophy behind the change: “Based on measurable performance instead of opinion or popularity. Designed to reward performance & reflect results inside the Octagon.”

Under the current system, rankings across all UFC weight classes are determined by votes from media members spanning multiple platforms. That model has drawn criticism from within the promotion itself — UFC leadership has previously voiced dissatisfaction with the arrangement, including publicly championing Jon Jones as the rightful No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter regardless of where media ballots placed him.

The precise mechanics of the new system have not yet been detailed, and it remains unclear whether media members will retain any role in shaping the rankings going forward. The UFC has not confirmed a launch date for the revamped format.

The shift carries significant implications for fighters whose rankings influence title-shot opportunities and contract leverage. A purely performance-driven model could reward recent form and finishing rate over reputation or name recognition — factors that critics argue have historically skewed the media-voted standings.