Dana White has had enough of the media-voted pound-for-pound rankings in the UFC. So much so that he wants Mark Zuckerberg to help change the system.
Since its inception, the UFC P4P rankings have been determined by the media. This was meant to ensure the public had a say in it. White, on multiple occasions, has expressed his dislike of the process.
And, since Jon Jones failed to move up to #1 in the rankings after his win over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, White has asked Zuckerberg to come up with an AI-generated system ASAP.
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Jones did gain a point and moved to No.2 in the P4P list. But that isn’t enough for the UFC President, who has been saying that the heavyweight champion is the rightful #1 for months now.
“I have to get rid of these clowns!! @zuck Let’s get this AI deal done ASAP!!!!!”
White has long proposed an AI model that maintains the rankings based on performances, history, and other such metrics. These factors are not taken into consideration by the media, while the AI system will rule out personal preferences and biases, believes White.
Talking about personal biases, one can’t help but wonder if White is objective while harping for Jones, who has fought just twice in four years.
White’s obsession with the P4P rankings started when lightweight champion Islam Makhachev took the top spot. But what really got him riled up was the lack of shuffle in the rankings after the Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree bout.
White claims media will no longer be in control
Rountree and light heavyweight champion Pereira put on one of the best performances of the year at UFC 307 in October. But the rankings did not reward the good showing. Rountree remained static at #8 in the division after the four-round fight against Poatan.
White was agitated by this and said that he did not want the media to be in control of the rankings anymore.
“A group of people that are coming to me saying they have the solution to this problem and God I hope they’re right. Coz I’m gonna change it, the media will no longer control the rankings in the UFC.”
It appears White won’t rest until he sees Jones sitting at the top of the P4P rankings. So, a change in the system will happen sooner or later. What remains to be seen is whether it would be unbiased.
