The UFC's newly introduced AI-powered rankings have removed several veteran fighters no longer considered top-15 caliber, including Vera, Ortega, Emmett, Dariush, Lewis, and Andrade. However, the system has drawn criticism for placements such as Kevin Borjas reaching the flyweight top ten despite a 2-4 UFC record, no finishes, and a recent weight miss, while ranking above more active and accomplished fighters like Charles Johnson. The absence of a pound-for-pound list was also noted, with the UFC citing subjectivity as the reason. The AI rankings will run in parallel with the existing media rankings, which will continue to influence matchmaking.
The UFC's newly launched AI-powered rankings have generated immediate debate across the sport, clearing out a wave of veteran fighters while producing placements that critics argue expose real flaws in the system.
Among those removed from the top-15 standings were Marlon Vera, Brian Ortega, Josh Emmett, Beneil Dariush, Derrick Lewis, and Jessica Andrade — all fighters the AI determined no longer merit elite divisional status. The culling of established names has been broadly welcomed as an overdue correction, but the system's other decisions have drawn sharper scrutiny.
The loudest criticism centers on flyweight Kevin Borjas, who cracked the division's top ten despite holding an 11-5 overall record and a 2-4 mark inside the UFC. The 28-year-old from Peru, who trains out of Pitbull Martial Arts Center, has recorded zero takedowns and zero submission attempts per 15 minutes in UFC competition, and carries a striking accuracy of just 42 percent. A recent weight miss has added further questions about his readiness at the weight class. Critics have pointed out that Borjas ranks above more active and accomplished flyweights, including Charles Johnson.
The UFC also declined to release an AI-generated pound-for-pound list, citing the inherent subjectivity of cross-divisional comparisons. The existing media rankings will remain in place and continue to influence matchmaking, with the AI system running alongside them rather than replacing them outright.
Why it matters
- Several long-tenured veterans losing rankings spots could reshape matchmaking across multiple divisions simultaneously
- Borjas's placement raises questions about which inputs the AI is weighting and whether UFC record and finishing ability are properly valued
- The parallel rankings structure means fighters and managers must now navigate two separate systems when lobbying for bouts
- The absence of a pound-for-pound list leaves the sport's most visible prestige rankings untouched by the new technology
