The UFC's newly introduced AI-generated rankings have removed several veteran names — including Andrade, Derrick Lewis, and Brian Ortega — from divisional top-15 lists, which has been broadly welcomed. However, the absence of a pound-for-pound list and questionable placements such as Kevin Borjas at flyweight No. 10 — despite a 2-4 UFC record and no finishes — have drawn sharp criticism. The AI rankings are currently running in parallel with the traditional media rankings, and matchmaking will continue to be guided by the older system for the time being.
The UFC's experimental AI-generated rankings system has sparked a divided reaction across the MMA community since its introduction, with observers praising some of its decisions while questioning others.
On the positive side, the new system has stripped several long-tenured names — among them Jessica Andrade, Derrick Lewis, and Brian Ortega — from their respective divisional top-15 lists, a move that has been broadly welcomed by fans and analysts who felt those spots had been held too long. The AI rankings are currently operating alongside the traditional media rankings, and the UFC has indicated that matchmaking will continue to follow the older system for now.
The criticism has centered largely on flyweight, where Kevin Borjas has been slotted in at number ten. The 28-year-old Peruvian, who trains out of Pitbull Martial Arts Center, carries an overall record of 11-5-0 and has compiled just a 2-4 mark inside the UFC. He has recorded zero takedowns and zero submission attempts per 15 minutes in his UFC tenure, and his striking accuracy sits at 42 percent. Critics have pointed to that profile as evidence the algorithm requires significant refinement before it can be trusted for matchmaking purposes.
A separate and widely noted gap is the complete absence of a pound-for-pound list from the AI output, leaving no algorithmic answer to questions about who the sport's best active fighter is.
Why it matters
- Removing stale veterans from top-15 lists could eventually open ranking spots to more active, ascending fighters.
- The flyweight placement of Borjas raises credibility concerns about how the algorithm weighs UFC performance versus overall record.
- Without a pound-for-pound component, the system offers an incomplete picture of the divisional landscape.
- Because matchmaking remains tied to traditional rankings, the AI list carries no immediate competitive consequences.
