Rankings Overview: What occurred to Marlon Vera and Montana De La Rosa?

It might be an understatement to say the UFC has some questionable rankings.  You would be expecting rankings to be questionable as they are subjective nonetheless, in this column, I will place out rankings that I feel are evident problems.

Editorial Commentary by Peter Parsons

I often uncover it interesting when there is a modify in the rankings and the fighters that moved spots have not experienced modern fights.  This was the circumstance when the UFC rankings arrived out last 7 days with Casey Kenney and Alexa Grasso showing up at No. 15 in their pounds divisions, changing Marlon Vera and Montana De La Rosa, respectively.

Marlon Vera – Unranked at Bantamweight

Marlon Vera was changed by Casey Kenney, who entered the bantamweight rankings at No. 15 very last week, even although Kenney has not competed since Oct.  Vera also did not have a latest fight to justify a modify in ranking.

In just about a year, from August of 2018 to Oct of 2019, “Chito” Vera racked up 5 straight victories, all of which have been finishes, in the UFC bantamweight division.  This was very the strength of timetable and finishing streak which designed Vera 1 of the top rated bantamweight prospective buyers to look at out for.

Vera’s winning streak came to an close following losing a controversial decision to rated bantamweight Tune Yadong in a shorter-observe combat at featherweight in May of 2020.  Vera then prolonged his finishing streak at bantamweight to 6 with a earn around then No. 15 rated Sean O’Malley to enter the rankings himself.

Vera had his six-combat finishing streak at bantamweight snapped when he shed a determination to previous featherweight champ and prime 10 ranked bantamweight Jose Aldo in December.  The loss to Aldo rightfully did not drop Vera from the rankings at the time.

Casey Kenney had an active 2020, getting fought 4 situations.  He began off the calendar year in February with a unanimous final decision loss to then unranked Merab Dvalishvili, who is now ranked No. 12.

He has considering the fact that gained a few straight fights with his most notable victory in his last outing in Oct, a unanimous determination victory above British prospect Nathaniel Wood.  The acquire more than Wooden was Kenney’s next combat in October, having gained a unanimous determination over Heili Aletang previously in the month on UFC Struggle Island.

In my feeling, Vera is extra deserving of the rating thinking about he experienced a six-battle finishing streak at bantamweight together with his very last earn versus a beforehand rated fighter in Sean O’Malley, who was on a streak of his have.  Kenney has seemed seriously excellent in his very last a few fights, but he has nonetheless to defeat a ranked fighter.  Vera dropped his very last fight, but it was a decision loss versus new title challenger and the latest No. 6 rated bantamweight in Jose Aldo.

Kenney has a massive possibility coming up in his following fight in opposition to the current No. 11 ranked bantamweight and previous winner Dominick Cruz, on the stacked UFC 259 card in March.  A victory, about the guy who several take into consideration to be the greatest bantamweight of all time, would surely go Kenney up the rankings.

Alexa Grasso – Ranked No. 15 at Flyweight

Considerably like Kenney and Vera, Alexa Grasso changed Montana de la Rosa at No. 15 in the women’s flyweight division with both equally fighters not obtaining not long ago fought, to develop the improve in rankings.

Grasso has only experienced 1 fight at flyweight.  She appeared spectacular in her very last combat, which was her flyweight debut against Ji Yeon Kim back again in August.  Grasso was rated at strawweight, nonetheless, she experienced shed a few of her final five at strawweight, albeit to the leading ranked competitors.  I do not come to feel like beating an unranked fighter in her only struggle so significantly in her new division warrants a amount beside her name.

De la Rosa is coming off a reduction in opposition to the present No. 7 ranked Viviane Araujo.  Going into the Araujo fight De La Rosa was ranked No. 11, getting received four out of her last 5 with her most the latest gain in opposition to Mara Romero Borella, who was ranked No. 13 at the time.  Her other loss at flyweight was versus the present-day No. 11 ranked Andrea Lee.

Apart from De La Rosa, there are a few fighters who are more deserving than Grasso of a rating at flyweight.  Gillian Robertson, Mollly McCann, and Sabina Mazo are 3 fighters who stand out to me.

Gillian Robertson was just lately bounced from the rankings after losing to the existing No. 13 rated Taila Santos.  Robertson is tied for the most wins in the women’s flyweight division background, with Valentina Shevchenko and Katlyn Chookagian, at 6 victories.  The Canadian has the most submissions and finishes in division historical past with four.  Her notable victories consist of submission victories around Courtney Casey and Molly McCann.

After shedding to the aforementioned Robertson in her UFC debut, Molly McCann rallied off 3 straight victories which gained her a position in the flyweight division.  The British veteran lost her position after a unanimous conclusion reduction in her last combat to the existing 17-1 Taila Santos.

Sabina Mazo appeared really outstanding in her very last outing in September towards Justine Kish.  The 23-12 months-previous Colombian showed great placing for the improved element of three rounds ahead of securing a rear naked choke late in the third.  This was Mazo’s third straight victory in the UFC flyweight division.

There are a range of major fights in February for the above feminine flyweight fighters which consist of:

• Molly McCann vs. Lara Procópio, February 6
• (10) Maycee Barber vs. (15) Alexa Grasso, February 13
• Gillian Robertson vs. Miranda Maverick, February 13
• Sabina Mazo vs. (12) Alexis Davis, February 27
• Montana De La Rosa vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, February 27

Rankings Summary

It does not make sense for rankings to adjust among two fighters when neither fighter have experienced a struggle considering the fact that the prior week’s rankings.  Does it have anything to do with the point that Kenney and Grasso have fights lined up against rated fighters?

Chimaev received the No. 15 welterweight position around the time he was initial scheduled to combat Leon Edwards.  I am not suggesting a conspiracy theory, I am just suggesting that possibly these fighters become far more major of thoughts to the voters when huge fights are announced.  Or is it since there has been a modify in the voting panellists?  Both way, I do not believe it is a fantastic search from a sporting and regularity perspective.

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My rankings would glimpse distinctive than any other author or fan who follows the sport closely.  This is to be expected, as rankings are subjective.  Even so, the higher than examples are rankings I strongly disagree with.  Rankings must be based mostly primarily on results and not perceived potential or level of popularity.

Some people assume rankings do not subject.  Rankings do issue.  They issue when it comes to matchmaking.  They issue when it arrives to agreement negotiations.

Let’s hold the rankings discussion going.  Do you concur or disagree that the above illustrations are glaring position problems? Which UFC rankings do you strongly disagree with? Categorical your views in the reviews underneath.