Dana White is evidently furious with the UFC’s ranking system.
The UFC President controls matchmaking and negotiates business deals within the organisation, but doesn’t oversee the rankings.
White insists on Jon Jones being the best pound-for-pound UFC fighterGetty
The ranking system was introduced in February 2013 to enable fans to clearly identify the best fighters in the UFC’s massive roster.
The UFC roster consists of more than 700 fighters from 79 countries as of September 28, 2024.
These are determined in the promotion by more than 20 members of the media every single week.
They collectively vote on who should be included as the top 15 fighters for each weight class within the UFC.
Pound-for-pound rankings are also decided using the same system to compare fighters regardless of their weight division.
The UFC then uses these votes to curate the ranking system, which is updated every week and within 48 hours of the last UFC event.
However, the system is clearly not working according to White, the company’s CEO, who has expressed his frustration towards them.
“The morons strike again,” he said via social media on Tuesday.
“Khalil Rountree fights that badass fight against Pereira and the morons rank him at number eight. Keep him at number eight?
“This week I have a meeting to try and fix the rankings and get all these know-nothing, do-nothing m*****f****** out of it.
Rountree was bloodied up in the championship rounds against Pereira but didn’t stop until he was completely exhaustedGetty
“So, hopefully this week I get this fixed.”
This follows the main event clash between Pereira and Rountree Jr at UFC 307.
Rountree was the clear underdog going into the bout as the No.8 ranked light heavyweight.
The American had never even headlined a UFC event before, whereas Pereira, who has only lost once in the UFC, was in his sixth title fight.
Although the Brazilian eventually got the better of Rountree after four rounds, the latter put on an incredible performance, fighting his heart out from start to finish.
He was credited by many MMA fans for standing and banging with Pereira and showing warrior-like qualities from start to finish.
The result also left the same set of fans confused as to how Rountree remained number eight in the rankings after his performance.
Rountree is positioned behind Nikita Krylov, who hasn’t fought in the UFC since March 2023, in the light heavyweight rankings.
He is also ranked lower than former champion Jamahal Hill, who was knocked out in the first round in his last octagon appearance against Pereira.
Aleksandar Rakic, Jan Blachowicz, Magomed Ankalaev and Jiri Prochazka all make up the rest of the light heavyweight rankings behind the champion Pereira.
Islam Makhachev tops the pound-for-pound rankings ahead of the Brazilian and other UFC champions such as Jon Jones, Ilia Topuria and Belal Muhammad.
Britain’s Tom Aspinall and Leon Edwards also reside in the top 10 of the pound-for-pound rankings.
Light heavyweight rankings
C: Alex Pereira
1. Jiri Prochazka
2. Magomed Ankalaev
3. Jamahal Hill
4. Jan Blachowicz
5. Aleksandar Rakic
6. Volkan Oezdemir
7. Nikita Krylov
8. Khalil Rountree Jr
9. Johnny Walker
10. Carlos Ulberg
