UFC Replaces Traditional Rankings With New Elo Based Meta System

THE CHANGE

The UFC has begun phasing out its long standing media panel rankings in favor of a new system called Meta UFC Rankings, an Elo based model designed to rank fighters using math rather than a media vote. The system was officially unveiled on June 22, 2026, built in partnership with Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram and the UFC's official fan technology partner, with development having started back in February 2025.

HOW IT WORKS

The model uses statistical modeling, machine learning and fight data to weigh outcome probability, win method, momentum, opponent quality, activity level and time since a fighter's last outing, reducing rankings drift for fighters who rack up wins against weaker competition or coast on old victories after long layoffs. Meta UFC Rankings update every Monday after UFC events, while the traditional media panel continues running alongside it on UFC.com through a transition period, and pound for pound rankings have been removed altogether under the new model.

WHERE THINGS STAND

As of the most recent update, Islam Makhachev sits atop the promotion's pound for pound style metrics, followed by Alexander Volkanovski, Petr Yan, Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria. Divisional champions currently include Tom Aspinall at heavyweight, Carlos Ulberg at light heavyweight, Sean Strickland at middleweight and Volkanovski at featherweight, with Ciryl Gane holding the interim heavyweight title.