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FightMatrix Software Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
The rankings on this site are computer generated, and are based only on official results. There is no human intervention involved, which means that all bouts are considered in chronological order to determine the current rankings. The idea is to provide a list that is comparable to the “popular thought” without bias. However, there are some prediction-based elements. So in summary, you could say the system is a hybrid of popular thought and prediction analysis.
The following notes are important to consider when viewing the rankings.
- These are CURRENT rankings. The more recent a result, the more impact it has on a fighter’s ranking.
- A fighter must have a professional MMA bout in the previous 450 days to be listed.
- As of 11/01/2009, current ranking points are division-adjusted. The exact adjustment varies depending on divisions and direction moved, but a male fighter moving up one division will lose approximately 17%. Male fighters will gain approximately 17% upon moving down a division. This percentage varies slightly depending on the divisions in question. The factor is approximately 1/3rd stronger for female fighters.
- A fighter can only appear in one division at a time and is almost always placed in the division in which they last fought. It is rare, but sometimes we make exceptions if we feel that the move is temporary and the fighter accomplishes nothing there (Example: Matt Lindland jumping two divisions to lose to Fedor).
- The winner is always placed above the loser, regardless of the outcome.
- A bout’s winner can lose points, if for example, they only manage a close win over a much lower rated fighter. In addition, the loser will gain points in this scenario.
- There is a special factor involved in UFC title and tournament championship bouts, due to the increased length of the matches, opposition obligations, and prestige of the lineage. It also helps with problems caused by global talent pool separation. The same factor applies to historical PRIDE title bouts, Shooto (115,123,132,143) , DREAM (155,185), Strike Force Women (135,145), Tachi (125). This factor CAN (but not always) result in a higher amount of combined total points. This factor was strongest prior to 2006, but has been weakened progressively since, due to the decreased need.
- A ranked fighter may appear to lose or gain points for no reason at all. The reasons for this may include: historical bout additions & changes and/or quality performance decay penalties.
- Injury-related TKOs are not treated any differently then standard TKOs. A TKO is a TKO.
- Rather than being overly concerned with the actual placement of the fighters, take a look at their points. Often times, the point differences between two rankings are very slim, and this means that their placements are really a “toss up”.
- Community adjustments will be made at the start of every year, starting with 2012, that will control country populations that have a propensity of being over- or underrated. Confirmation will be based on retroactive analysis of prior data. Partial adjustment will be made retroactively to past years.
- Post-rating blocking is now used to prevent losing fighters from passing above the rank of fighters who recently beat them, unless they fulfill certain requirements. Remaining blocks expire after 540 days.
- Fighters cannot be rated more than three times above the adjusted current rating of the highest rated fighter in which they beat or drew with in the past 1080 days within their current division — max penalty of 33.3% and final rating cannot be less than 3x the starter rating. This does not apply to generated ratings prior to 2004.
Latest Rankings:
“There is a special factor involved in UFC title and tournament championship bouts, due to the increased length of the matches, opposition obligations, and prestige of the lineage…This factor CAN (but not always) result in a higher amount of combined total points.”
JCS, isn’t that rather biased? Why should winning a championship in the UFC give you more points? Championship bouts in Strikeforce are 5 rounds too. Surely it is the quality of opponent the fighter defeats that should determine how many points they acquire?
People dont give Lesnar enough credit, he has beaten legitimate people and has earned his number 2 ranking.
Interesting, its fun to see how site ranks differently. Your site does stand out with different rankings but with your computer logic doesn’t always make sense. Example Just because a football team goes undefeated in season does not mean they will win superbowl, same with fighters things change. I mean wins/skills and all that brock should still be ranked at max top 10 with not only 2 losses but a victory that was tainted. Along with frabico losing to jds and being higher doesn’t make sense at least compared to your ranking system. Roy neslon who easily crushes most of guys why rank him so high, just because he had couple losses, same with fedor he had a loss but your smart enough not to move him back several ranks. Then you should look at quality of fighters they fight, you did well for Overeem seeing he doesnt deserve to be in top 8, but at same time looking at couture who has not a good win in 3 years should not even be top ten anymore. To also have King mo above Jon jones is a joke its like competing patriots against browns or another horrible team. My advice to improve site is to not see it as computer does and use more logic and possible outcomes and fighters past. Because any fan can tell you Brock does not deserve to be number 2.
While I applaud what you are trying to achieve, I think trying to describe such events mathematically is a mistake. This is not because the site experts don’t know what they are doing. Quite the contrary. They are looking for an easy dispassionate, way to explain all they know on the subject.
The danger here is analogous to a recipe vs. Cooking. Sheet music vs. Composition. Only a computer could rank a fighter with two years experience and seven fights (5-2) in the top ten in a pound for pound like, ranking.
I’m reminded of “good will hunting” . This site is awesome. It can tell me all about ” the Sistine chapel” and everything about Michael Angelo. But it can’t tell you what it smells like to stand there. Nor can it’s description of the great mass, possibly inform us as to the true beauty when preformed by a master orchestra.
If you want facts and figures this place is awesome. I recommend it highly. But I’ve trained with a lot of these guys. And trust me when I say it’s as much about heart as it is stats. Maybe a lot more. And I assure everyone out there that if you can tell me what it smells like in certain gyms across this country, you are more qualified to rank any fighter then any computer.
Computers don’t think they just run programs. Don’t let the b.c.s problem (bachelors in computer science) influence who is truly the best.
More points are awarded for accredited titles. Read the eigth bullet point above!
are more points awarded for title wins/defenses or is it purely based on the quality of opposition?
Head-to-head results only affect the rankings after that fight. Aoki’s point total simply passed Melendez’s.. Melendez hasn’t even fought since. Aoki has beaten Kawajiri and Aurelio.
As for Rizzo, he’s pretty much maxed out on rating points unless he goes into the UFC. Guys get some status with wins, but don’t challenge themselves.. and they (potentially) end up a little overrated.
Of course, I’ll look into these to see if there are any anomalies.. when I get the time.
Your rankings are usually pretty good but some stuff doesnt make sense. Aoki should not be ahead of Melendez on account that Melendez smashed him. Also some guys are ranked way to high. For instance guys like Pedro Rizzo is still like top 20? Why because he is beating cans? If he faced anyone in the UFC and prolly Strikeforce he would lose. Theres more than 20 fighters in the UFC alone. I just want it to make more sense. Thx.
Also, Alves just lost to Fitch but still beat Hughes and Lytle which neither of them have beat a guy above Alves since so how is he ranked lower than them?
Jon Jones is ranked way too low! he should be above Couture easily. Randy should not be top 10 at this time. I’d also put JDS above Werdum since he beat him and Werdum beat Fedor… it’s not like JDS has lost since that time nor has Fedor beat anybody who beat him and he’s the #1 contender.