
via Getty
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JANUARY 21: In this handout image provided by the UFC, Conor McGregor of Ireland interacts with media during the UFC 257 press conference event inside Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 21, 2021 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

via Getty
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JANUARY 21: In this handout image provided by the UFC, Conor McGregor of Ireland interacts with media during the UFC 257 press conference event inside Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 21, 2021 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Another week of drama concluded at the UFC after a massive event went down inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas at UFC 279. After the showcase, the promotion’s official website updated its rankings. Since there were some high stake matchups on the PPV card, a lot of shuffling was there in the latest update. Even Conor McGregor got a jump in rankings, which fans opposed.
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Though the card had a few catchweight bouts, the update still reflected the results in the latest rankings. Fans fumed over some changes. Chiefly, Li Jingliang losing his ranking after getting beat in a highly controversial decision was disputed.
Meanwhile, Conor McGregor also moved his position in the lightweight even though neither he nor any lightweight was competing on the card.
Conor McGregor moving up had fans talking
‘The Notorious’ moved up one place as Tony Ferguson dropped 4 places to 14. It was quite a change since Ferguson was competing in the welterweight division. And the Irish star has only one win in the division that came in 2016.
Updated #UFC LW Rankings. Conor McGregor up 1 spot. pic.twitter.com/1yzpQFvtwU
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) September 13, 2022
ESPN journalist pointed out the same fact in his tweet. Meanwhile, a few other fans also shared similar sentiments.
has one LW win in the UFC, six years ago
📈
— Phil Murphy (@Phil_Sports) September 13, 2022
He should be out of the rankings lol all these nobodys ko him
— Hdjxjsbc (@hdjxjsbc) September 13, 2022
Still 10 places too low. https://t.co/3mnoujeTza
— Atulya Aman (@atulyaaman) September 13, 2022
Conor McGregor moved up more spots than he’s been tested by USADA in all of 2022! https://t.co/41DwRJXZN3
— EK (@EdwardsKim) September 13, 2022
Ell. Oh. Ell. Hasn't fought in 14 months and has lost 3 of his past 4. Come on. https://t.co/KydJ8uPlSW
— Brian Martin (@TheBMartin) September 13, 2022
Further, there was another big change in the welterweight division that fans disapproved of.
Li Jingliang lost his welterweight ranking after a catchweight contest
One of the biggest stories of the UFC 279 week was China’s best male fighter in the UFC – Li Jingliang. The superstar had a big change in opponent as he went from facing a lightweight who moved up a division to a 10 lbs heavier opponent at a brief notice.
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Yet the Chinese warrior almost pulled off the win but was beaten on the judges’ scorecard. Even UFC President Dana White believed the bout should not have been a split decision but a unanimous decision win for ‘The Leech’.
And now that the ranking came out, the welterweight fighter lost his top 15 spot to Daniel Rodriguez after competing in a catchweight contest. Fans could not believe their eyes and expressed the same on social media.
Chung Li getting robbed from every corner this week lol
— 3bz (@Abd1CFC) September 13, 2022
it doesn’t make any sense. it wasn’t even a welterweight fight lmao
— Hater (@willlll_r07) September 13, 2022
Li’s bad week continues: couldn’t rock the suit to the presser, had to fight a guy 8lbs heavier at weigh ins and way bigger fight night, then he won but was robbed, now the guy who beat him bumped him out of the rankings.. by far the biggest loser of the weekend.
— NJ MMA Insight OGFan (@NjmmaINSIGHT) September 13, 2022
Disrespect
— Brandon Moreno’s Burner (@morenosmother) September 13, 2022
Ultimate robbery lmfao
— Nunzio (@Nunzio_p1) September 13, 2022
That’s criminal
— Brett The Threat (@BrettTheThreat4) September 13, 2022
That’s criminal!
— P ʟ ᴏ ᴛ T ᴡ ɪ s ᴛ 🇨🇦🇨🇺 (@MM_Vivere) September 13, 2022
The injustice continues
— MMA Fan (@Fan25011995Mma) September 13, 2022
Despicable
— Møhammad A. 👽🛸🛸 (@childmambino11) September 13, 2022
One more robbery 🤷🏻♂️
— Franki Mendez (@FrankiMendez) September 13, 2022
Disgusting
— Joseph (@Joseph04738360) September 13, 2022
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— Bonk (@BonkJab) September 13, 2022
UFC rankings have been a burning question in the MMA space that does not seem to go away. And the latest update only puts fire to it.
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What do you make of the latest UFC rankings after UFC 279? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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