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 not. 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 Lightweights.
*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 & UFC 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 | 2 | 5 | Goiti Yamauchi | 290.5 |
| 2 | 3 | 3 | Brent Primus | 238 |
| 3 | NR | Jay-Jay Wilson | 220.5 | |
| 4 | 4 | 1 | Patricky ‘Pitbull’ Freire | 194 |
| 5 | 5 | Aviv Gozali | 192.5 | |
| 6 | 6 | 2 | Sidney Outlaw | 186 |
| 7 | 7 | 4 | Peter Queally | 168 |
| 8 | 8 | Mandel Nallo | 149 | |
| 9 | 10 | 10 | Dan Moret | 130 |
| 10 | 13 | 7 | Usman Nurmagomedov | 118 |
| 11 | 12 | 9 | Islam Mamedov | 110 |
| 12 | 15 | Charlie Campbell | 104 | |
| 13 | 16 | Alexandr Shabily | 100 | |
| 13 | NR | 6 | Benson Henderson | 100 |
| 15 | 11 | Georgi Karakhanyan | 97 | |
| 16 | 18 | Kevin Ferguson Jr | 93 | |
| 17 | 19 | Saad Awad | 80 | |
| 18 | 22 | Joshua Jones | 73 | |
| 19 | NR | Killys Mota | 72 | |
| 20 | 23 | Alfie Davis | 69.5 | |
| 21 | 24 | Nick Newell | 64 | |
| 22 | 26 | Daniele Scatizzi | 60 | |
| 23 | 30 | Lance Gibson Jr | 59 | |
| 24 | 27 | Chris Gonzalez | 57.5 | |
| 25 | 28 | Marcus Surin | 56 | |
| 26 | 32 | Saul Rogers | 54 | |
| 27 | 34 | 8 | Myles Jury | 36.5 |
| 28 | 35 | Manny Muro | 35 | |
| 28 | 35 | Nainoa Dung | 35 | |
| 30 | 39 | Tim Wilde | 28 | |
| 31 | 38 | Kiefer Crosbie | 27.5 | |
| 32 | 45 | Davy Gallon | 20 | |
| 33 | 41 | Soren Bak | 19 | |
| 34 | 42 | Ricardo Seixas | 18 | |
| 34 | 39 | Yves Landu | 18 | |
| 36 | 42 | Kane Mousah | 14 | |
| 37 | 44 | Alan Omer | 10 | |
| 37 | 44 | Ali Zebian | 10 | |
| 37 | NR | Bobby King | 10 | |
| 37 | 45 | Mike Hamel | 10 | |
| 37 | 45 | Nick Browne | 10 | |
| 42 | 45 | Bobby Lee | 0 | |
| 42 | 45 | Bryce Logan | 0 | |
| 42 | 45 | Isaiah Hokit | 0 | |
| 42 | 45 | Nate Andrews | 0 | |
| 42 | NR | Patrik Pietila | 0 | |
| 42 | NR | Raymond Pina | 0 |
Check back next Wednesday for our featherweight rankings
Bellator Performance Based Rankings
Heavyweights
Light Heavyweights
Middleweights
Welterweights
Featherweights
Bantamweights
Women’s Featherweights
Women’s Flyweights
Pound for Pound
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