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Dana White finds himself in the familiar position of lashing out at the UFC rankings panel, this time in the aftermath of UFC 307. The latest rankings update, released days after light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira successfully defended his title against Khalil Rountree Jr., has sparked a fresh round of controversy — and White isn't having it.
While Pereira retained his title in a hard-fought battle, Rountree Jr.'s gutsy performance made waves in the MMA community. Many fans and analysts lauded "The War Horse" for his relentless attack in the early rounds, pushing Pereira to his absolute limits. It seemed inevitable that Rountree Jr. would move up in the rankings after such a showing, despite ultimately coming up short in his quest for UFC gold.
But the update came, and Rountree Jr. remained locked at the #8 spot in the light heavyweight division — a decision that ignited fury in Dana White.
White, known for his no-holds-barred approach, immediately took to social media to express his dissatisfaction, particularly targeting the UFC rankings panel. In his Instagram Stories, the UFC president did not hold back, calling out the panel for failing to recognize Rountree Jr.'s effort.
“The morons strike again,” White ranted. “Khalil Rountree fights that badass fight against Pereira, and the morons rank him #8, keeping him at #8. Literally, this week, I have a meeting to try to fix the rankings and get all these no-nothing motherf**kers out of it. So hopefully, this week I get this fixed.”
White’s comments come amid growing frustration from fighters, fans, and pundits alike who have questioned the integrity of the UFC's ranking system. Over the past several months, the rankings have become a lightning rod for criticism, with accusations of inconsistency and bias thrown at the panel responsible for the weekly updates.
Some believe the rankings are often disconnected from in-cage performances, with fan favorites or marketable fighters seemingly benefitting from leniency, while rising stars and workhorses, like Rountree Jr., struggle to get recognition.
The debate over how rankings are calculated has only intensified with recent events. Rountree’s powerful performance at UFC 307 should have been a defining moment in his career, yet the panel's decision to keep him stagnant has drawn significant backlash. Many believe that this marks yet another instance where fighters who push the pace and deliver thrilling bouts are left undervalued in the rankings.
White, not one to shy away from these issues, has vowed to revamp the system, indicating that change is coming. He suggested that a meeting with UFC brass this week could lead to a complete overhaul of the ranking process, with new voices or, as he put it, "getting all these no-nothing motherf**kers out of it."
It remains to be seen what changes White will implement, but it's clear that the UFC rankings system, long under scrutiny, is once again at the center of a heated debate. For Khalil Rountree Jr., the hope is that his near-upset against Alex Pereira will one day be properly recognized, perhaps under a more transparent and fair ranking system.
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