UFC's new AI rankings draw mixed reaction: veterans cut, but placement logic questioned

The UFC's new AI-powered rankings have removed several veteran fighters from the top 15 — including Vera, Ortega, Emmett, Dariush, Lewis, and Andrade — and introduced changes designed to penalize inactivity, making it harder for fighters like Yair Rodriguez to leverage minimal activity into title shot demands. However, the placement of Kevin Borjas at No. 10 in the flyweight division — despite a 2-4 UFC record and no ranked wins — has drawn sharp criticism. The AI rankings will run in parallel with the existing journalist-voted version, with the old system still influencing matchmaking.