UFC President Dana White Explores AI Solutions with Mark Zuckerberg to Overhaul Rankings System
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UFC President Dana White considering AI and Mark Zuckerberg to improve rankings system
UFC President Dana White told TNT Sports that he has spoken with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg about possibly using artificial intelligence to improve the organization's maligned ranking system. "I'm totally going to fix the rankings," White told the network on Thursday. "We're going to make a lot of strong moves here coming into 2025." This isn't the first time White has complained about the ranking system, which has been in place since 2013. It relies on a combination of rankings from a variety of outlets that cover the UFC. The next major event is the featherweight championship between titleholder Ilia Topuria and second-ranked challenger Max Holloway in UFC 308 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
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Dana White asked Mark Zuckerberg about fixing 'incompetent' UFC rankings
UFC president asked Meta CEO about rankings fixWhite has expressed frustration with UFC rankings Dana White recently reached out to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg for help with improving the UFC rankings system, possibly using artificial intelligence. The UFC boss confirmed his conversations with the Meta CEO during an interview Thursday with TNT Sports. "I could go on and on and on but I won't," White said. "We literally had meetings this week to work on it. I actually talked to Mark Zuckerberg, too, about AI, so yeah. I'm totally going to fix the rankings. We're going to make a lot of strong moves here coming into 2025." White previously expressed his frustration with the current rankings that are voted on by a UFC-selected group of media outlets, a system that has been in place since 2013. "I just can't handle incompetence," White said earlier this month. "I just can't take it anymore. It's driving me crazy. I can't let people that I don't believe know what the fuck that they're talking about deal with the rankings anymore. I just can't do it. I have to figure out a solution." According to MMA Junkie, recent complaints have included Max Holloway being ranked below Justin Gaethje, and Renato Moicano's ranking remaining unchanged after his win against Benoit Saint Denis in September. The UFC has become the sports arm of Donald Trump's Maga movement under White, a longtime ally of the former US president who has spoken at the past three Republican National Conventions.
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UFC President Dana White has revealed discussions with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg about potentially using artificial intelligence to improve the UFC's controversial rankings system, signaling a major shift in the organization's approach to fighter rankings.
UFC's Ranking System Under Scrutiny
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White has publicly announced his intention to overhaul the organization's controversial ranking system, potentially leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) in collaboration with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. In a recent interview with TNT Sports, White confirmed, "I'm totally going to fix the rankings. We're going to make a lot of strong moves here coming into 2025."
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The current UFC rankings system, implemented in 2013, relies on a combination of rankings from various media outlets covering the sport. However, White has expressed growing frustration with what he perceives as incompetence in the current process. "I just can't handle incompetence," White stated earlier this month. "I just can't take it anymore. It's driving me crazy."
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Exploring AI Solutions with Mark Zuckerberg
In a surprising move, White revealed that he has reached out to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to discuss potential AI applications for improving the rankings. "I actually talked to Mark Zuckerberg, too, about AI," White confirmed in the TNT Sports interview. This collaboration between the sports entertainment giant and the tech mogul signals a potential paradigm shift in how combat sports organizations might leverage cutting-edge technology to address long-standing issues.
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The UFC's interest in AI-driven solutions comes at a time when artificial intelligence is increasingly being applied across various industries to solve complex problems and improve decision-making processes.
Controversial Rankings and Recent Complaints
The current rankings system has faced criticism from various quarters, including White himself. Recent complaints have highlighted perceived inconsistencies, such as Max Holloway being ranked below Justin Gaethje, and Renato Moicano's ranking remaining unchanged after a significant win against Benoit Saint Denis in September.
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These discrepancies have fueled the push for a more objective and potentially AI-driven ranking system. The goal appears to be creating a more accurate reflection of fighters' performances and standings within the organization.
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Implications for the Sport
As the UFC prepares for major changes in its ranking system, the potential implementation of AI could have far-reaching implications for the sport. It may lead to more transparent and data-driven rankings, potentially affecting fight matchups, fighter negotiations, and fan engagement.
The next major UFC event, featuring a featherweight championship bout between titleholder Ilia Topuria and second-ranked challenger Max Holloway at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, will take place under the current ranking system. However, fighters and fans alike will be keenly watching how the proposed changes might reshape the landscape of mixed martial arts in the coming years.
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