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Forbes
5 minutes ago
- Forbes
Tapology Delivers New Ranking System That Is Better Than The UFC
Tapology has just left no doubt which combat sports site sits atop the mountain. On Monday, the site introduced a new rankings system that will immediately become a reference point for the MMA world, and it is already better than the system the UFC uses that even Dana White admits is flawed. As a journalist covering MMA for 15 years, I'm personally ecstatic to see an official ranking system with no human bias and one that after some deep examination has all the rhyme and reason I need to refer to it regularly. Tapology's new proprietary ranking system for fighters eliminates human subjectivity, media opinions, and fan voting. In place of 'vibes,' as Tapology founder Gregory Saks puts it in an article by Ben Fowlkes of the Uncrowned, the new model uses a data-driven algorithm to evaluate every active UFC fighter based solely on performance metrics. This system, five years in the making, measures each fighter's last six UFC bouts, taking into account strength of schedule, short-notice fights, and the quality of wins and losses. Let's look at the upcoming middleweight bout between Joe Pyfer and the UFC's current No. 14 185-pounder, Abus Magomedov. It feels like Pyfer should be close to being ranked, but because the UFC's ranking system stops at No. 15, it is hard to know how close he is to having a number next to his name–as Jon Anik would say. Well, according to Tapology's rankings, Magomedov is ranked No. 18 and it is Pyfer with the higher ranking at No. 16. What does this tell us–especially those who are normally a slave to the UFC's system? It tells us this is an even matchup and one that is even more intriguing now than it was when it was first announced. The new ranking system also introduces a new way to look at upcoming events. We can use the rankings to see how many Top 50 fighters are set to compete. According to Tapology, the upcoming UFC Fight Night headlined by Roman Dolidze vs. Anthony Hernandez, has mostly guys and girls ranked in the Top 50. Specifically, all but five fighters set to compete are ranked inside of the Top 50 fighters in the world in their weight class. That's partially deceiving considering one of those fighters is former men's flyweight title challenger Steve Erceg. He's making his bantamweight debut in a bout against veteran Ode Osbourne. Erceg is certainly one of the 50-best bantamweights, but to the ranking system's credit, he'll have to prove it first. As White has mentioned, the UFC's current system has room for human error as it is susceptible to bias and the inevitable prisoner-of-the-moment factor. This system, while bound to have its critics, doesn't have those same flaws. That's at least refreshing. You have to wonder if White will be asked about this in Chicago at UFC 319 or before if someone has the opportunity. And if he is asked, it'll be interesting to see how he responds. Historically, White hasn't shied away from acknowledging issues with his promotion's own rankings, once calling them 'a pain in the ass.' But he's also known to resist outside influence, especially when it comes to public-facing tools not made in-house. Tapology's independent framework could quietly gain traction, even without the UFC's blessing, especially if fighters start referencing it for callouts and resume building. The more it's used to justify matchups or contender status, the harder it will be to ignore. It'll also be interesting to see if real-life circumstances will influence an evolution of Tapology's ranking system. Take it from someone who has tried to create their own MMA metrics; you sometimes think you have everything accounted for and then something unexpected happens. In any case, bravo Tapology.
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Chip Kelly and the Las Vegas Raiders offensive staff may be a bit unhappy with what they're seeing from second-year stud
Chip Kelly and the Las Vegas Raiders offensive staff may be a bit unhappy with what they're seeing from second-year stud originally appeared on A to Z Sports. With training camp here, the Las Vegas Raiders are evaluating everything. And that's what they should do, considering how many things have been wrong within the franchise. This is the fourth regime in four years for the Raiders. So, with so many hands on the franchise the last few years, Pete Carroll and John Spytek just want to make sure everything is at its best. That includes position battles in training camp that maybe we didn't even think would be position camp is the time to watch for position battles all over the roster, but you usually know who will start at certain positions — for example, we know quarterback Geno Smith is the starter. There is no battle between him and Aidan O'Connell, the backup quarterback. Well, we thought there was no battle for the center spot. Jackson Powers-Johnson, the now second-year center, finished the season there last year, and man, he was great. He had a few hiccups, but overall, it was fun seeing him get up the field for a few was a position that we all just assumed was JPJ's, and there really wasn't anything else to think about. The idea was that JPJ is the center of the future for the Raiders. But we could all be wrong. There's now some stipulation that maybe the Raiders are unhappy with him, as that's a question one insider is raising. View the to see embedded media. Raiders could be unhappy with Jackson Powers-Johnson The first week of training camp, JPJ was starting at center. Then, in this second week, it's been mostly all Jordan Meredith, the guard from last season. And, JPJ has been playing guard, where he started the 2024 the question is, why is that? It feels like that's the direction the Raiders are going. 'What was interesting… is when Alex Cappa was in there, he was making the line calls,' Las Vegas Raiders Review Journal insider Vinny Bonsignore said on the Vegas Nation First and 10 podcast. 'Do you think [Powers-Johnson moving to guard] has to do with communication and understanding of the offense, and the understanding of calling things at the NFL level, that maybe they're a little bit hesitant with Jackson Powers-Johnson right now?' 'I'm just wondering if Jackson Powers Johnson is at the point where… I'm trying to put myself in his cleats a little bit… 'on notice, singled out' or whatever the case might be, it's pretty conspicuous what's going on,' Bonsignore said. Now, this could very well mean nothing at all, just the Raiders trying things out. Or, it could mean everything. If a guy like Vinny, who is super close to the team, is pointing it out, saying something isn't right, then something's probably not still early in training camp, so it will certainly be something to watch, because JPJ is much better at the center position than he is at the guard position. This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Aug 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Yankees' slide continues thanks to walk-off Rangers HR in extras; Aaron Judge back Tuesday
A change of venue was not the cure for what's ailing the New York Yankees. But help is on the way. Manager Aaron Boone announced Monday after an 8-5 loss to the Texas Rangers that Aaron Judge will return to the lineup Tuesday after missing 10 games with a flexor strain in his right elbow. Judge is expected to play designated hitter until he's cleared to return to his spot in the outfield. Prior to Boone's announcement, the Yankees lost in heartbreaking fashion in extra innings. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Yankees blow lead, lose on walk-off The Yankees struck first with a leadoff home run by Paul Goldschmidt, then took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the second inning. But the Rangers batted around in the second to take a 4-3 lead. The Yankees retook the lead and held a 5-4 advantage heading into the bottom of the ninth. There, pinch hitter Joc Pederson sent it to extras. With the bases empty and one out, Pederson launched a 2-1 Devin Williams changeup over the plate into the right-field stands to tie the game at 5-5. The blown save was the third of the season for Williams, a two-time All-Star and lights-out closer with the Milwaukee Brewers. With Pederson's home run, Williams' ERA in his first season in New York inflated to 5.10. The blast set up Josh Jung for his 10th-inning heroics. With a man on second and two outs, the Yankees intentionally walked Wyatt Langford to get to Jung in the six slot. Reliever Jake Bird left a 1-1 sinker thigh-high and just inside that Jung turned on. The result was a no-doubt home run into the left-field stands that ended the game. Yankees in free fall, face critical games vs. Rangers The loss was the Yankees' fourth straight following an unprecedented three-game sweep at the hands of the Miami Marlins. They're now 7-10 since the All-Star break. The defeat dropped the once first-place Yankees to 60-53, 5.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East and 2.5 games behind the rival Boston Red Sox, who won their sixth straight game Monday night. It also left them with a 1.5-game cushion over the Rangers and in a tie with the Seattle Mariners for the last wild-card spot in the American League. This three-game series against the Rangers could end up proving critical for the postseason standings, and it's already going bad for New York. Can Judge help Yankees turn things around? Judge hasn't played since July 25 with the elbow injury that landed him on the injured list. He took batting practice over the weekend and will return to the lineup Tuesday on his first day of eligibility. As the Yankees face a multitude of problems, Judge's return can't come soon enough.
