UFC head honcho Dana White has been the subject of mockery in mainstream MMA media over the past few months due to his controversial stance on the latest UFC pound-for-pound rankings. The list saw UFC heavyweight king Jon Jones placed below Islam Makhachev, who now holds the #1 position—a move White swiftly labeled as “ridiculous and embarrassing.”

Since then, a tug-of-war has emerged between MMA fans and the UFC CEO, with both sides eager to set the record straight. Yet, it seems their debate is far from over. Amid this controversy, Jones is gearing up for his highly anticipated return to the Octagon this month in what’s rumored to be his swan song, facing Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden. As the excitement builds for this event, the pound-for-pound debate has now drawn in interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, who has shared his honest take on the ranking system.

Tom Aspinall criticizes “rubbish” Pound-for-Pound ranking system

Since becoming the interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall has been calling for a title unification bout against the division’s reigning king, Jon Jones. However, Dana White has been ignoring this request, despite Aspinall’s proving himself worthy on multiple occasions. After much back-and-forth, Aspinall secured a backup role for the headline fight at the upcoming UFC 309 where Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic are scheduled to go at it.

Recently, while speaking to VechtersBazen on YouTube, Aspinall was asked if he considers himself the pound-for-pound number one fighter. Aspinall dismissed the entire idea, explaining, “No, pound-for-pound’s a load of… load of sh-t, anyway. It’s a lot of rubbish, yeah. It’s a terrible, terrible argument.” When the host further asked about his belief in ranking systems, Aspinall clarified, “I think there’s an argument for rankings, but not for pound-for-pound rankings. I think it’s the biggest load of sh-t anyone could ever make up. It’s terrible.”

Using an example of Brock Lesnar vs. Henry Cejudo, Aspinall explained his reasoning, suggesting it’s better to focus on meaningful questions like “Who is the GOAT?” or “Who is the best of all time?” and emphasizing the importance of a fighter’s “resume” over hypothetical pound-for-pound comparisons.

Tom Aspinall makes a compelling case, which could be the reason why Dana White recently highlighted the need for substantial updates to the pound-for-pound rankings, including the integration of advanced technology and AI to enhance accuracy.

Can Mark Zuckerberg’s technology resolve Dana White’s P4P controversy?

Dana White never hesitates to make bold moves when it comes to his promotion. Built with his sweat and effort, he’s turned the UFC into a billion-dollar organization and will do whatever it takes to keep it controversy-free and on top. Recently, White reached out to his longtime friend, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, to discuss a revolutionary change in the MMA industry aimed at making the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings more reliable.

In a recent interview with media veteran Kevin Iole, White shared his thoughts, saying, “I gotta find some media guys who actually understand the sport of fighting and are qualified to handle the rankings because right now, the rankings are a problem. But don’t worry my friend, AI will be here soon, and this will all be fixed. We’ll get rid of these people who know nothing about fighting, bring AI in, and finally fix these rankings.”

What’s your take on Tom Aspinall’s remarks about the pound-for-pound rankings? Do you also believe that a purely speculative assessment of fighters fails to provide a valid evaluation of their true skills? Drop your opinion below.