It is perhaps an understatement to say the UFC has some questionable rankings. You’d count on rankings to be questionable as they’re subjective; nevertheless, on this column, I’ll level out rankings that I feel are evident errors. I can even analyze vital motion within the rankings that I agree with.
Editorial Commentary by Peter Parsons
Marlon “Chito” Vera defeated former UFC bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz by fourth spherical knockout in the principle occasion of the UFC Struggle Night time in San Diego this previous Saturday. The struggle was the primary of a number of high-profile bantamweight fights scheduled within the subsequent couple of months.
Marlon Vera ranked No. 5 at bantamweight
This previous Saturday, Marlon Vera had his highest profile victory of his profession over who many individuals regard as the most effective bantamweight of all time in Dominick Cruz. The 29-year-old Ecuadorian’s victory over Cruz was his fourth straight since his loss to Jose Aldo in 2020. Aldo is ranked No. 3 and due to this fact, it doesn’t make sense for Vera to go forward of Aldo who hasn’t misplaced because the Vera struggle. I really feel that Vera ought to have been bumped up one spot forward of present No. 4 Cory Sandhagen.
Sandhagen has misplaced two in a row and three out of his final 5, albeit in opposition to the highest of the bantamweight division in present champ Aljamain Sterling, TJ Dillashaw, and Petr Yan. Sandhagen had two spotlight reel KOs in opposition to Frankie Edgar and Marlon Moraes between his Sterling and Dillashaw fights.
When rating Sandhagen and Vera, to me it comes all the way down to their wins within the final two years. Vera has defeated Sean O’Malley, Davey Grant, Frankie Edgar, Rob Font and Dominick Cruz. Sandhagan has the 2 victories over Frankie Edgar and Marlon Moraes within the final two years. Moraes had been on a dropping streak and has since retired and Edgar is one struggle away from retirement.
Sandhagen has a struggle scheduled in opposition to Music Yadong on September 17. With a victory over Yadong, I might put Sandhagen again forward of Vera.
There can be extra motion on the prime of the bantamweight rankings after UFC 278 on Saturday night time when No. 3 ranked Jose Aldo takes on No. 6 ranked Merab Dvalishvili. See beneath for a full record of upcoming notable UFC bantamweight fights.
Cynthia Calvillo ranked No. 14 at UFC ladies’s flyweight
Along with her loss in opposition to Nina Nunes this previous Saturday, Cynthia Calvillo has now misplaced 4 in a row at flyweight. Calvillo received her flyweight debut in June of 2020 over Jessica Eye. Calvillo went on to lose in opposition to prime flyweights in Katlyn Chookagian, Jessica Andrade and Andrea Lee. Nina Nunes was a strawweight coming as much as struggle Calvillo in what turned out to be Nunes retirement struggle. I really feel just like the loss to Nunes ought to have dropped Calvillo out of the rankings.
Calvillo’s lone flyweight victory over Eye shouldn’t maintain a lot weight as Eye had gone on to lose three straight after the Calvillo struggle and introduced her retirement after her final loss in opposition to Maycee Barber.
In my final Rankings Assessment article, I wrote about who needs to be ranked forward of No. 15 Molly McCann. I really feel like Miranda Maverick and Maryna Moroz needs to be ranked forward of Calvillo. I additionally really feel like Molly McCann needs to be ranked forward of Calvillo.
Since my final Rankings Assessment article, it was introduced that Molly McCann can be combating in opposition to No. 12 Erin Blanchfield on the MSG card in November. See beneath for an inventory of upcoming notable fights within the UFC ladies’s flyweight division.
Upcoming Notable UFC Bantamweight Fights
Aug 20 – (6) Merab Dvalishvili vs. (3) Jose Aldo
Sep 17 – (10) Music Yadong vs. (4) Cory Sandhagen
Oct 1 – Rani Yahya vs. Cody Garbrandt
Oct 1 – Trevin Jones vs. Raoni Barcelos
Oct 15 – Jonathan Martinez vs. Cub Swanson
Oct 22 – (13) Sean O’Malley vs. (1) Petr Yan
Oct 22 – (2) TJ Dillashaw vs. (C) Aljamain Sterling
Upcoming Notable UFC Ladies’s Flyweight Fights
Aug 20 – Shanna Younger vs. Miranda Maverick
Sep 17 – Sijara Eubanks vs. Maryna Moroz
Sep 17 – Mariya Agapova vs. Gillian Robertson
Oct 15 – (6) Viviane Araujo vs. (5) Alexa Grasso
Oct 22 – (7) Manon Fiorot vs. (1) Katlyn Chookagian
Nov 12 – (15) Molly McCann vs. (12) Erin Blanchfield
Dec 3 – (9-SW) Amanda Ribas vs. (13) Tracy Cortez
My rankings would look totally different than some other author or fan who follows the game carefully. That is to be anticipated, as rankings are subjective. Rankings needs to be primarily based totally on outcomes and never perceived potential or recognition.
Some individuals assume rankings don’t matter. Rankings do matter. They matter with regards to matchmaking. They matter with regards to contract negotiations.
Let’s hold the rankings dialog going. Do you agree or disagree with the above Rating Assessment? Express your thoughts in the comments below.
