It’s been over a decade since the introduction of UFC’s pound-for-pound (P4P) ranking system, which may now experience a major shake-up. Frustrations around the subject have been brewing, with UFC CEO Dana White, venting about fighters who are ‘stuck’ because of the rankings. For example, Khalil Rountree who had a fierce showing against champion Alex Pereira left him stranded at #8 in the light heavyweight rankings. And he is not alone – Renato Moicano’s knockout of Benoit St. Denis barely budged his #10 lightweight ranking, adding fuel to the existing fire. Are the rankings as they stand truly a reflection of the sport’s best fighters? In the case of both the flyweight divisions, the spotlight has always shined on elite fighters like Brandon Moreno and Valentina Shevchenko.

In the men’s flyweight division, ‘The Assassin Baby’ Brandon Moreno finds himself in an odd position. Despite winning against Amir Albazi at UFC Fight Night 246, Moreno is still below Brandon Royval (#1) who he lost to via split decision in his previous outing. ‘The Assassin Baby’ was unable to deliver his usual standout performance, which allowed Royval to gain an edge at UFC Fight Night 237. Moreno’s decline in the rankings happened after UFC 290, after losing the belt to Alexandre Pantoja, who also recently beat Brandon Royval. The Mexican fighter finds himself two spots below the men who handed him back-to-back losses.

Meanwhile, the women’s pound-for-pound rankings tell a different, yet equally gripping story. Valentina Shevchenko occupied the top spot on the women’s P4P ranks after a grueling victory over Alexa Grasso at UFC 306. However, she isn’t celebrating quite yet. Why the caution? She knows better than anyone that the fighters below her in the ranks, Alexa Grasso and Zhang Weili are close on her heels. Furthermore, after her 1-1-1 record against Grasso, Shevchenko is on high alert considering the need to stay sharp to retain her title.

A tale of two struggles: Valentine Shevchenko back on top while Brandon Moreno missing from P4P list

Valentina Shevchenko has had one of the most dominant runs in the UFC, after Amanda Nunes. The fighter from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan has one of the most complete skill sets among women fighters, with 15 finishes in 24 wins. With two title wins and seven defenses, ‘Bullet’ rightly earned her spot on the top of the women’s P4P list. For Shevchenko, her position is not just about rankings, it’s about being the greatest female fighter of all time.

On the other hand, Moreno exited the men’s P4P rankings after losing his hard-earned title to Alexandre Pantoja. The Mexican fighter boasts two victories over the ever-dangerous Deiveson Figueiredo, having stopped him via TKO in their last meeting. Moreno also has two victories over Kai-Kara France who sits at #4 in the flyweight rankings. ‘The Assassin Baby’ even has a win over the man who last beat him, Brandon Royval. The only fighter that Moreno lost to, time and time again, is Alexandre Pantoja who beat him twice in Octagon, and once in TUF 24.

As the UFC’s ranking landscape continues to shift, both Moreno and Shevchenko find themselves at opposite ends of the spectrum. Being the women’s flyweight champion, ‘Bullet’ is on top of the women’s P4P ranking. On the other hand, ‘The Assassin Baby’ is not even in the top 15 men’s P4P list. If Moreno finds victory against the two men who handed him back-to-back losses and maybe wins back his title, he will no doubt be included in the P4P list.

The latest pound-for-pound rankings highlight the relentless nature of being in the UFC, where each fighter must constantly be on top of their game. For the Mexican and Kyrgyztani fighters, these rankings reflect more than just numbers. They symbolize the setbacks they’ve overcome, and the uncertainty of being at the top. Though it’s challenging for elite fighters like Moreno to watch their rankings fluctuate, this volatility is part of the sport.

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What’s your take on these champion’s future? Do you think Shevchenko can defend her title once again and Moreno win back his? Let us know in the comments below!