UFC Leans Further In to AI With New Meta Rankings

UFC unveiled a new ranking system Monday, designed by Meta and built using AI. 

Since 2013, UFC has used a ranking system determined by a media voting panel composed of journalists from 22 publications. UFC president Dana White had frequently criticized the rankings, arguing media members weren’t qualified to have control over them.  

“I can’t handle incompetence,” White said in a 2024 press conference. “I can’t take it anymore. And I can’t let people that I don’t believe know what the fuck they’re talking about deal with the rankings anymore. I just can’t do it. I have to figure out a solution.”

UFC first partnered with Meta in April 2025, with the fighting promotion exclusively showing posts from Threads during fights and renaming its complex in Las Vegas the Meta Apex. The Meta system, which hasn’t been used for any other sport’s rankings, was created using AI. The rankings are determined by a mathematical model reminiscent of an Elo rating system, which is used to calculate the competitive performance of fighters. For now, the media rankings will remain in use and on UFC’s website as the fighting promotion transitions to fully using the Meta model. 

The rollout wasn’t perfect, as the new page debuted with multiple issues. Champions Joshua Van, Petr Yan, and Alexander Volkanovski were replaced by previously unranked fighters, and some weight classes did not have 15 contenders. The errors were resolved by Tuesday afternoon.  

The Meta rankings were met with questions by fans on social media, with some specifically pointing to changes at welterweight. Carlos Prates was ranked ahead of Ian Machado Garry and Joaquin Buckley ahead of Kamaru Usman, despite both Machado Garry and Usman having recent wins over Prates and Buckley, respectively. 

The new model gives greater weight to recent fights, as well as dominant finishes over top opponents, which could explain the changes. Prates has fought three times since losing to Garry, winning all three bouts and defeating two top-10 opponents, while Garry has only fought once. Buckley’s ranking is more questionable, as he lost his only fight since challenging Usman, while the former welterweight champion has not fought since.  

Other notable changes include Paddy Pimblett dropping to No. 9 in the lightweight rankings, former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz dropping from No. 4 to No. 15, and Yair Rodríguez falling out of the rankings despite being ranked as the No. 5 contender at featherweight by the media. 

It’s unclear how these changes will affect the matchmaker’s decisions when booking bouts. For  fighters like Blachowicz or Rodríguez, the changes could move them further away from a title shot, representing a huge potential loss in earnings. 

‘AI Is Coming’

The recent collaboration with Meta is not the first time UFC has utilized artificial intelligence. A promotional video for UFC Freedom 250, which featured footage of fighters arriving at the White House and a voiceover from White, was entirely AI-generated. 

The video was heavily criticized by fight fans, with many calling it “lazy” and questioning the fighting promotion’s usage of AI. White responded to critics in a press conference following UFC Fight Night 271.

“AI is coming, and if we’re using AI, who gives a shit,” he said. “People are upset, and we should use artists? How about this? Shut the fuck up and watch the fights.”

The fan reaction to UFC’s AI usage resembles the blowback other leagues, teams, and networks have faced. ESPN reassessed its usage of AI during the NBA Finals after an AI-generated image of Tony Parker on the Game 1 broadcast sparked online backlash. 

UFC did not respond to a request for comment.