There is constant debate about fighter rankings, which are normally based on voting from a panel of journalists. Such is the case with something as subjective as voting – it’s totally based on a voter’s opinion, and biases are bound to seep through, whether intentional or no. So to try to put a fresh, objective, data-driven spin on rankings, The MMA Manifesto has come up with a performance based ranking system, solely based on how a fighter has performed in the cage, this time for Bellator. We’ll roll out a new weight class every Wednesday. Next up: The Light Heavyweights.
*stipulations: 1) any fighter currently suspended or 2) inactive for at least 12 months (without an upcoming fight scheduled) are excluded from the rankings
- Scoring based on a fighter’s past 10 Bellator performances (we use a five-year time limit, so if they have fought less than 10 times in the past five years, only the fights within that time frame are counted. For fighters who have also fought in the UFC during this time, those performances were counted also)
- Points based on a fighter’s opponent’s Bellator win/loss record (ie strength of schedule – the more successful a vanquished opponent is, the more points awarded), extra points given for finishes, extra points given for title fight wins.
- Points are weighed so most recent fights are worth more (ie most recent fight counts the most, 10th most recent fight the least)
- No points awarded for a loss
| Stats | Last | Bell | Total | |
| Rank | Rank | Rank | ||
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Vadim Nemkov | 887 |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | Ryan Bader | 457 |
| 3 | 3 | 4 | Phil Davis | 246 |
| 4 | 4 | 3 | Corey Anderson | 224.5 |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson | 188 |
| 6 | 6 | 8 | Grant Neal | 147 |
| 7 | 7 | 6 | Julius Anglickas | 124 |
| 8 | 8 | 7 | Lyoto Machida | 108 |
| 9 | 12 | Alex Polizzi | 98 | |
| 10 | 9 | 9 | Christian Edwards | 81 |
| 11 | 10 | 10 | Melvin Manhoef | 77 |
| 12 | 11 | Lee Chadwick | 58 | |
| 13 | 13 | Luke Trainer | 50 | |
| 14 | NR | Yannick Bahati | 45 | |
| 15 | 15 | 11 | Karl Albrektsson | 10 |
| 16 | 16 | Jose Augusto | 9 | |
| 17 | 17 | Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov | 0 | |
| 17 | 17 | Ederson Macedo | 0 | |
| 17 | 17 | Gregory Milliard | 0 | |
| 17 | 17 | Jason Markland | 0 | |
| 17 | 17 | Jonathan Wilson | 0 | |
| 17 | NR | Simon Biyong | 0 | |
| 17 | 17 | Viktor Nemkov | 0 |
Check back next Wednesday for our middleweight rankings
Bellator Performance Based Rankings
Heavyweights
Middleweights
Welterweights
Lightweights
Featherweights
Bantamweights
Women’s Featherweights
Women’s Flyweights
Pound for Pound
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