The UFC has introduced a new algorithmic rankings system in which wins and the quality of opposition account for 95 percent of a fighter's standing, with no manual adjustments or media voting allowed. Fighters can move multiple spots at once, early finishes earn a small bonus, and inactivity penalties begin after 18 months without a bout. Notable shifts under the new system include Pat Sabatini and Nathaniel Wood entering the featherweight top ten, Navajo Stirling sitting twelfth at light heavyweight, and Mitch Raposo and Kevin Borjas appearing in the flyweight top fifteen. The traditional media-voted rankings will remain available during the transition period, and there will be no pound-for-pound list under the new model.
The UFC has overhauled its rankings infrastructure, replacing the long-standing media-voting model with an algorithm-driven system that took effect on June 22, 2026.
Under the new framework, wins and the quality of opposition account for 95 percent of a fighter's standing. Manual adjustments are no longer permitted, and media voters have been removed from the process entirely. Fighters can now jump multiple positions in a single cycle, early finishes carry a small scoring bonus, and fighters who go 18 months without competing will begin to see their rankings decline. The UFC confirmed there will be no pound-for-pound list under the new model, though the traditional media-voted rankings will remain accessible during a transition window.
The first wave of results produced several notable movers. Pat Sabatini and Nathaniel Wood enter the featherweight top ten under the new math. Wood, a 33-year-old Englishman with a 23-6 record, is one of the division's more active volume strikers, landing 5.64 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy. He also averages 1.35 takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him a well-rounded profile that the algorithm appears to reward.
At light heavyweight, Navajo Stirling slots in at 12th, while the flyweight division sees two new faces in the top 15. Mitch Raposo, a 27-year-old switch-stance fighter from the United States with an 11-3 record, brings nearly two takedown attempts per 15 minutes alongside 1.91 significant strikes landed per minute. Kevin Borjas, known as El Gallo Negro, enters at 11-5 out of Peru. The 28-year-old orthodox striker lands 3.87 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy and relies almost entirely on his hands, averaging zero takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Rankings are now driven by objective criteria, reducing the influence of name recognition or media relationships
- Fighters can rise faster with impressive wins but will also fall more quickly during extended layoffs
- The absence of a pound-for-pound list removes a high-profile benchmark the sport has used for decades
- Early finishes receiving a bonus could incentivize more aggressive fighting styles across all divisions
