Whether you are looking for a sport to bet on, get involved with, or learn more about, you have a variety of options available to you today. Throughout your research, it’s likely that you’ve come across everything from hockey to lawnmower racing. Whatever the situation, there is simply no denying that there is a whole slew of options out there when it comes to the wide world of sports. Despite this, only a select few can be at the top. Basketball is one of those sports, with its ability to draw in millions and millions of fans every year. With more than 200 basketball-playing nations competing against each other every year, the Olympic dream matchups, and all the local events, it should be easy to understand why basketball became so popular and is still growing.
Ranking the 2020 UFC Rookie Class
The following table shows the peak quarterly ranking of all fighters to make their UFC debut in 2020 as well as the corresponding ranking of their debut opponent. The fighter with the highest peak ranking was former Invicta FC champion Jinh Yu Frey. However, her highest ranking, #2 Women’s Atomweight, came in a division not currently promoted by the UFC. So far this year, 10 fighters have made their promotional debut against a fighter whose peak ranking was in the top 25. In those fights, debuting fighters have gone 3-7. UFC rookies have gone 17-22 overall in their debut fights.
| Event | Date | Fighter | Peak Prior to Fight | Opponent | Opponent Prior Peak | W/L | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFC 246 | 1/18/2020 | Ode Osbourne | #240 Bantamweight | Brian Kelleher | #11 Bantamweight | Loss | SUB Guillotine Choke |
| UFC 246 | 1/18/2020 | Aleksa Camur | #231 Light Heavyweight | Justin Ledet | #49 Heayvweight | Win | U-DEC |
| UFC Raleigh | 1/25/2020 | Jamahal Hill | #87 Light Heavyweight | Darko Stosic | #53 Light Heavyweight | Win | U-DEC |
| UFC Raleigh | 1/25/2020 | Tony Gravely | #53 Bantamweight | Brett Johns | #14 Bantamweight | Loss | SUB Rear Naked Choke |
| UFC Raleigh | 1/25/2020 | Herbert Burns | #73 Featherweight | Nate Landwehr | #43 Featherweight | Win | KO/TKO Knee |
| UFC Raleigh | 1/25/2020 | Nate Landwehr | #43 Featherweight | Herbert Burns | #73 Featherweight | Loss | KO/TKO Knee |
| UFC 247 | 2/8/2020 | Khaos Williams | #194 Welterweight | Alex Morono | #38 Welterweight | Win | KO/TKO Punch |
| UFC 247 | 2/8/2020 | Youssef Zalal | #333 Featherweight | Austin Lingo | #411 Featherweight | Win | U-DEC |
| UFC 247 | 2/8/2020 | Austin Lingo | #411 Featherweight | Youssef Zalal | #333 Featherweight | Loss | U-DEC |
| UFC Rio Rancho | 2/15/2020 | Brok Weaver | #272 Welterweight | Kazula Vargas | #155 Lightweight | Win | DQ |
| UFC Rio Rancho | 2/15/2020 | Daniel Rodriguez | #169 Bantamweight | Tim Means | #24 Welterweight | Win | SUB Guillotine Choke |
| UFC Rio Rancho | 2/15/2020 | Shanna Young | #54 Women’s Flyweight | Macy Chiasson | #4 Women’s Bantamweight | Loss | U-DEC |
| UFC Auckland | 2/22/2020 | Josh Culibao | #167 Featherweight | Jalin Turner | #187 Lightweight | Loss | KO/TKO Punches |
| UFC Norfolk | 2/29/2020 | Norma Dumont | Not Ranked | Megan Anderson | #4 Women’s Featherweight | Loss | KO/TKO Punch |
| UFC Norfolk | 2/29/2020 | Darrick Minner | #57 Bantamweight | Grant Dawson | #44 Featherweight | Loss | SUB Rear Naked Choke |
| UFC Norfolk | 2/29/2020 | Kyler Phillips | #126 Bantamweight | Gabriel Silva | #74 Featherweight | Win | U-DEC |
| UFC Norfolk | 2/29/2020 | Steve Garcia | #147 Featherweight | Luis Pena | #106 Featherweight | Loss | U-DEC |
| UFC Norfolk | 2/29/2020 | TJ Brown | #166 Featherweight | Jordan Griffin | #75 Featherweight | Loss | SUB Guillotine Choke |
| UFC Norfolk | 2/29/2020 | Spike Carlyle | #262 Lightweight | Aalon Cruz | #174 Featherweight | Win | KO/TKO Punches |
| UFC Norfolk | 2/29/2020 | Aalon Cruz | #174 Featherweight | Spike Carlyle | #262 Lightweight | Loss | KO/TKO Punches |
| UFC 248 | 3/7/2020 | Jamall Emmers | #110 Featherweight | Giga Chikadze | #99 Featherweight | Loss | S-DEC |
| UFC Brasilia | 3/14/2020 | David Dvorak | #41 Flyweight | Bruno Silva | #67 Flyweight | Win | U-DEC |
| UFC Jax | 5/13/2020 | Philipe Lins | #23 Heavyweight | Andrei Arlovski | #3 Heavyweight | Loss | U-DEC |
| UFC Jax | 5/13/2020 | Ike Villanueva | #116 Light Heavyweight | Chase Sherman | #69 Heavyweight | Win | KO/TKO Elbow |
| UFC FL | 5/16/2020 | Irwin Rivera | #132 Bantamweight | Giga Chikadze | #99 Featherweight | Loss | U-DEC |
| UFC FL | 5/16/2020 | Rodrigo Nascimento | #134 Heavyweight | Don’Tale Mayes | #93 Heavyweight | Win | SUB Rear Naked Choke |
| UFC Vegas | 5/30/2020 | Gabe Green | #154 Lightweight | Daniel Rodriguez | #64 Welterweight | Loss | U-DEC |
| UFC Vegas | 5/30/2020 | Brandon Royval | #34 Flyweight | Tim Elliott | #7 Flyweight | Win | SUB Arm Triangle |
| UFC Vegas 2 | 6/13/2020 | Mariya Agapova | #23 Women’s Flyweight | Hannah Cifers | #31 Women’s Strawweight | Win | SUB Rear Naked Choke |
| UFC Vegas 2 | 6/13/2020 | Gustavo Lopez | #126 Bantamweight | Merab Dvalishvili | #22 Bantamweight | Loss | U-DEC |
| UFC Vegas 2 | 6/13/2020 | Zarrukh Adashev | Not Ranked | Tyson Nam | #5 Bantamweight | Loss | KO/TKO Punch |
| UFC Vegas 2 | 6/13/2020 | Christian Aguilera | #235 Welterweight | Anthony Ivy | #129 Welterweight | Win | KO/TKO Punches |
| UFC Vegas 2 | 6/13/2020 | Anthony Ivy | #129 Welterweight | Christian Aguilera | #235 Welterweight | Loss | KO/TKO Punches |
| UFC Vegas 3 | 6/20/2020 | Justin Jaynes | #220 Featherweight | Frank Camacho | #135 Lightweight | Win | KO/TKO Punches |
| UFC Vegas 3 | 6/20/2020 | Max Rohskopf | #344 Lightweight | Austin Hubbard | #115 Lightweight | Loss | KO/TKO |
| UFC Vegas 4 | 6/27/2020 | Kyle Daukaus | #69 Middleweight | Brendan Allen | #27 Middleweight | Loss | U-DEC |
| UFC Vegas 4 | 6/27/2020 | Jason Witt | #89 Lightweight | Takashi Sato | #81 Welterweight | Loss | KO/TKO Punches |
| UFC Vegas 4 | 6/27/2020 | Kay Hansen | #33 Women’s Strawweight | Jinh Yu Frey | #2 Women’s Atomweight | Win | SUB Armbar |
| UFC Vegas 4 | 6/27/2020 | Jinh Yu Frey | #2 Women’s Atomweight | Kay Hansen | #33 Women’s Strawweight | Loss | SUB Armbar |
WHR… and how it really differs from Elo/Glicko
If you’re a frequent visitor, you may have noticed that we’ve added four purely mathematical variants of named rating systems to the ranking pages. Two versions of Elo, Glicko-1 and the latest being WHR.
You’ll see some basic info within our FAQ page and can Google for more. To make a long story super short, Elo is the grandfather of most like systems. It has been around for ages and is super simple. Elo doesn’t care about inactivity or inconsistencies. The process starts from day 1 and moves chronologically throughout time, every competitor starts with a starter rating, which is then modified with each result. Glicko-1 is a very similar system to Elo, except it has the concept of “rating deviation” which allows competitors’ ratings to deviate more or less, given when they fought last. There is also a second version of Glicko, which tosses in a factor called volatility — it is a major complication with extremely limited benefit.
In comes WHR. Again, it is based on Elo, but is setup to take numerous passes throughout history. With each pass, it “learns” from what happened in surrounding events. This makes it an excellent system for reviewing the past and in trying to determine when a competitor was really at their peak. Whether it paints a more accurate ranking picture… who knows?
Using the four systems we have in place, let’s take a look at the following events and the rankings at the end of the story.
Keep Reading
The Latest Medical Suspensions Are In
The UFC has been back in action for several weeks now, and fans of the sport, as well as those involved in it, couldn’t be happier. After the UFC action last weekend, most competitors walked away unscathed, but as you will expect, potential suspensions are coming up on medical grounds for some.
Since the UFC’s return, it’s been a big hit with viewers, with many of them opting to place bets on the action. If you are into the sport and have good knowledge about the fighters in the world’s leading in-cage championship, you should try out these MMA betting strategies. Although, the news on potential medical suspensions could alter your plans for the imminent future and the UFC events in the pipeline.
Fight Sports and the Integration of Tech
Sports organisations adapt, renew and develop through creative and novel ideas. The integration of tech has the potential to radically change how sport is played and viewed, reshaping and improving not only athletic performance but the experience of spectators. In this way, technology not only changes the way we live, work, and play: it is transforming the fight sports athletes train. Here are some of the technologies used:
Altitude Mask
An altitude mask is designed to simulate the low oxygen conditions of training at altitude, by restricting the flow of oxygen to your lungs. The product forces the lungs to work harder, improving the strength of the intercostal muscle and improving overall lung capacity, anaerobic threshold, oxygen efficiency and even mental focus. The acute shortness of breath also makes you more used to the feeling, more comfortable in competition.
The harder workout increases intensity, so the effects of the training are felt sooner, so you do not need to train for as long. This reduces the risk of injury and gives more recovery time when competing.
Essential Gear for Muay Thai
Invented in Thailand in the 14th century for actual combat, Muay Thai has gone on to be a professional and international sport today.
The exhilarating, heart-pumping, and adrenaline-packed sport has caught the attention of thousands. The combined technique of hands, elbows, knees, and shins drew people in. The stand-up, all-out combat has people holding their breaths. Though this sport has had some controversy, that doesn’t stop people from wanting to learn it. If you are one of these people, the good news is that there are so many Muay Thai training schools around the world now.
Even if you don’t want to become a professional fighter, you might get a kick out of learning the skills and techniques. But before you even begin, you need the right Muay Thai gear. At PunchPrime, they have created in-depth reviews of the most essential Muay Thai gear so you can find out which brands and styles are best for you.
People will argue that you don’t need all the gear if you just want to practice. But remember that this equipment is there to help and protect you.
Where to bet on MMA fights
MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) keeps growing in popularity as time goes on. The sport is a particular favourite to sports bettors. Big MMA fights often become wide-reaching events through traditional media channels, generating millions in betting revenue to bookmakers.
MMA has been known to create unreal amounts of hype over the years. So much so that big stars in the likes of Conor McGregor, Anderson Silva, Mirko Cro-Cop and Wanderlei Silva are names known to many people, even those with no interest in the sport.
As such, MMA has a prominent place at every respectable sportsbook’s portfolio of service. Meaning, you will have plenty of choice on the topic of where to bet on MMA fights.
Tips to Stick to your New Martial Art
Everybody wants to learn martial arts skills, yet not everybody has the discipline to stick to their chosen art. Learning a new martial art is hectic. It involves a lot of new exercises and routines, which can be discouraging.
Here is how to go about the new martial art until you achieve your goals:
Show Up
One of the first steps towards learning a new martial art is to show to the gym. Starting a new routine is challenging. You may always find it easy to come up with excuses and other reasons to procrastinate. Unbeknownst to you, one day of failing to show up quickly turns to 2 then a week leading to months, and ultimately quitting.
Once you decide to hit the gym, then do it regularly from the start date. Reading the other tips on how to stick to a new martial art is a waste of time if you won’t get to the gym.
Four Amazing Pro-wrestling Tips That You Ought to Know
Do you ever dream of becoming a professional wrestler? Imagine yourself walking down the ramp majestically, and the air filled with cheers from fans! It’s a beautiful image that you can turn into reality. With the right coaching, training, and a touch of luck, you can find yourself in the halls of fame. Here are amazing pro-wresting tips that you must know.
Get in shape
You only have one chance to make a statement to the audience before you step into the ring. Be vigilant about your theme music, and you look as well as your introduction. It speaks volumes before you even demonstrate your wrestling skills.
You ought to get in the best possible shape to woe the crowd. Don’t forget to try some cardio and strength building. It will enable you to perform swift superior moves that will leave your opponents and fans in awe.
You ought to build lean muscles as well as endurance. Have a strict diet plan to support your vision. A great wrestler is one who produces not only their character but also physical fitness.
5 Exciting Reasons Why You Ought to Have the Right Sports Gear
Engaging in sporting activities is very crucial for one’s health, as well as mental wellness. However, you ought to get ready to participate in sports. The right clothing goes a long way in not only boosting your confidence but also enhancing your overall performance. Here are compelling reasons why you must have the right sporting gear.
Breathability
During exercises and sports workouts, sweating is inevitable. It would be best if you have the ideal gear to enhance breathability. The right clothing will wick away moisture, thus keeping you dry as well as fresh. It’s a great chance to ensure you stay comfortable and continue with sports without the need to change into another outfit.
The ideal sports apparel fabric won’t promote any bacterial growth. The less sweat you have, the lesser the bacteria growth as well as less smellier workout gear.
What To Know About The Annual WWE Royal Rumble
The long awaited annual World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Royal Rumble is finally here with us! This year’s edition of the January-held event promises entertaining matches with famous professional wrestlers cum crowd favorites such as The Fiend©, Daniel Bryan, Becky Lynch© and Asuka taking to the stage.
With the holiday season firmly behind us, the Wrestle Kingdom has shut its borders and wrestling fanatics can now anticipate the most intriguing PPV put forth by WWE this year. The Royal Rumble 2020 show acts as the first step on the exciting journey to WrestleMania but might just be a little more entertaining. The Royal Rumble competition, since its institution in 1988, has been a major part of WWE’s calendar, revolving around its rather widely-unpredictable thirty man-match.
Highest Current Ratings (by Age)
Taking a page out of ESPN’s book (Ranking the best boxers by age), here are the highest rated active fighters by current age (using Glicko, FM Division Dominance, FM “P4P” points)
| Age | DD | P4P | Glicko |
| 15 | Yoo Jin Shin (1) | Yoo Jin Shin (1) | Yoo Jin Shin (1510) |
| 16 | Liandra Kemelly Freitas de Souza (1) | Liandra Kemelly Freitas de Souza (1) | Jhenifer Katrine Vasconcelos (1733) Nehoray Nahmani (1733) |
| 17 | Rodrigo Sobrinho de Moura (1) | Rodrigo Sobrinho de Moura (3) | Welisson dos Santos Paiva (1959) |
| 18 | Cristian Entony Silva Fernandes (1) | Leonardo Feitosa (3) | Leonardo Feitosa (1886) |
| 19 | Makoto Takahashi (1) | Makoto Takahashi (15) | Makoto Takahashi (2058) |
| 20 | Kay Hansen (1) | Kay Hansen (7) | Chase Hooper (2097) |
| 21 | Maycee Barber (1) | Maycee Barber (19) | Christian Lee (2488) |
| 22 | Yadong Song (1) | Salahdine Parnasse (24) | Salahdine Parnasse (2368) |
| 23 | Valesca Machado da Silva (1) | Arman Tsarukyan (15) | Ismail Naurdiev (2356) |
| 24 | A.J. McKee (57) | A.J. McKee (44) | A.J. McKee (2590) |
| 25 | Arnold Allen (1) | Arnold Allen (24) | Mukhamed Berkhamov (2420) |
| 26 | Petr Yan (156) | Petr Yan (36) | Petr Yan (2591) |
| 27 | Kevin Lee (121) | Rose Namajunas (44) | Natan Schulte (2557) |
| 28 | Max Holloway (413) | Max Holloway (88) | Max Holloway (2748) |
| 29 | Robert Whittaker (152) | Kyoji Horiguchi (93) | Robert Whittaker (2700) |
| 30 | Dustin Poirier (378) | Israel Adesanya (168) | Israel Adesanya (2827) |
| 31 | Khabib Nurmagomedov (673) | Khabib Nurmagomedov (258) | Khabib Nurmagomedov (2950) |
| 32 | Kamaru Usman (511) | Jon Jones (459) | Jon Jones (2943) |
| 33 | Francis Ngannou (219) | Demetrious Johnson (336) | Francis Ngannou (2757) |
| 34 | Jussier Formiga (157) | Cristiane Justino (58) | Gegard Mousasi (2736) |
| 35 | Tony Ferguson (425) | Tony Ferguson (172) | Tony Ferguson (2875) |
| 36 | Rafael Lovato Jr. (133) | Thiago Santos (41) | Ryan Bader (2819) |
| 37 | Stipe Miocic (507) | Stipe Miocic (254) | Stipe Miocic (2930) |
| 38 | Frankie Edgar (91) | Michel Prazeres (30) | Frankie Edgar (2430) |
| 39 | Bibiano Fernandes (51) | Bibiano Fernandes (44) | Bibiano Fernandes (2533) |
| 40 | Daniel Cormier (342) | Daniel Cormier (175) | Daniel Cormier (2864) |
| 41 | Jon Fitch (50) | Jon Fitch (31) | Jon Fitch (2617) |
| 42 | Yoel Romero (132) | Demian Maia (37) | Demian Maia (2673) |
| 43 | Fedor Emelianenko (1) | Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (20) | Fedor Emelianenko (2535) |
| 44 | Cheick Kongo (1) | Cheick Kongo (34) | Cheick Kongo (2523) |
| 45 | Miyuu Yamamoto (1) | Miyuu Yamamoto (9) | Mark Hunt (2153) |
| 46 | Masaya Takita (1) | Masaya Takita (2) | Maxim Novoselov (1945) |
| 47 | Piotr Swierczewski (1) | Joe Perry (1) | Valid Abdurachmanov (1783) |
| 48 | Ryuta Sakurai (1) | Ryuta Sakurai (2) | Ryuta Sakurai (1929) |
| 49 | Antonio McKee (1) | Kazuyuki Fujita (2) | Antonio McKee (2118) |
| 50 | Genilton Tavares (1) | Genilton Tavares (1) | Chuck Liddell (2082) |
| 51 | Masahiro Oishi (1) | Masahiro Oishi (1) | Masahiro Oishi (1663) |
| 52 | Yasuko Tamada (1) | Lee Mein (1) | Antonio Graceffo (1959) |
| 53 | Ramazan Ramazanov (1) | Ramazan Ramazanov (1) | Ramazan Ramazanov (2043) |
We don’t have every single birth date, so if there is an obvious miss, let us know.
Comparing the strength of schedule of Michael “Venom” Page and Anderson Silva through 18 fights
During the broadcast of Bellator 237, former referee turned commentator “Big” John McCarthy mentioned that Michael Page’s schedule through his career so far has been similar in terms of difficulty to that of former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva through the same stretch. Since Page has developed the reputation of a can smasher, this comment raised the ire of many MMA fans on social media. On its face, the comment is absurd. In his first 18 fights, Silva claimed the Shooto middleweight (168-pound) championship and knocked off a former UFC welterweight champion. But is the comparison really that outlandish?
Using Fight Matrix ranking points, it is possible to approximate the level of difficulty both fighters have faced through their first 18 fights. Every year, the website publishes the “Upsets of the Year” award. The most simple calculation is “Most Noteworthy,” which is the difference in ranking points (ranking points of a fighter minus the ranking points of an opponent). The higher the number, the larger the favorite. Through their first 18 fights, Page’s average most noteworthy score is 22.83, while Silva’s 21.61. However, that does not tell the entire story. Page’s average is buttressed by his fight against Douglas Lima. He went in as a heavy underdog against the Bellator champion and got knocked out in the second round. Without that fight, his average most noteworthy score rises to 41.35.
Also, Page’s level of opposition has declined significantly following his only career defeat. He has been a heavy favorite in his last three fights over Richard Keily, Gianni Melillo and Shinzo Anzai. The spike on the following chart is quite evident.

(Click here for the interactive Tableau Public version of this chart)
It would also be unfair to Silva to ignore that fact that his a large portion of his early opposition went on to have solid careers. When he fought Luiz Azeredo, Fabricio Camoes and Roan Carneiro they were a combined 3-2. All three went on to have extensive careers in major promotions such as the UFC and Pride FC. While those fighters blossomed later in their careers, it seems unlikely that will happen for some of Page’s early opponents. His first two opponents, Ben Dishman and Miguel Bernard, are still a combined 0-6 nearly eight years later.
While it does seem like large McCarthy was shilling from the commentary booth, Page’s early career run has not been that facile. However, his team and Bellator have clearly tried to give him a softer touch as of late.
Richard Mann is a regular contributor to @ESPNMMA, @FightMetric, @RotoWireMMA and @InterMat. You can follow him on Twitter at @richardamann.
How To Get Started With Mixed Martial Arts
Anyone can try Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) for fitness or to become a real fighter. It is essential to know where to start if you wish to get the most out of your training. Here are some tips to help you get started with this sport:
Do your Research
Before beginning your MMA training, research the options available for you. Go to the nearest gym that has professional MMA fighters attending. Choose a class to join which suits your needs. This is also true when finding the best iGaming offer for you.
Try Before Committing
The majority of MMA training gyms offer free sessions to clients who are interested in booking the class. As such, be sure to try one class first before committing. This is also the same when playing and earning the casino bonus. Sometimes, you may discover that MMA is not the right sport for you. Give some time to yourself to figure things before trying it for a long time.


