The UFC rankings system, first introduced in February 2013, was originally determined by a voting panel of media members who selected the top active fighters by weight class and pound-for-pound. Under that old system, champions and interim champions automatically held the top spots in their divisions but could still be voted on for pound-for-pound honors. However, on June 20, 2026, the UFC replaced this subjective approach with the Meta UFC Rankings, an Elo-based mathematical model designed to prioritize objectivity through factors like opponent quality, activity, and decay for long layoffs. The new framework removes pound-for-pound rankings and minimizes human involvement, with the media panel only continuing during a transition period. The article provides current rankings for all men's and women's weight classes, with the latest updates released on August 29, 2026 (Meta) and September 1, 2026 (media), following UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song.