PFL implements rankings system

[ASFN Admin]

A format change isn't the only thing PFL is doing to evolve into a more traditional form of promotion.

Tuesday, PFL announced the launch of its rankings, which include men's pound-for-pound, bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight, heavyweight and women's flyweight.

“These rankings provide a clear, objective snapshot of where each PFL division stands,” said PFL CEO John Martin in a written statement. “By partnering with an independent data organization like Combat Registry, we’re giving fans and our athletes a transparent and credible rankings system that reflects performance inside the PFL cage.”

The rankings are officiated by Combat Registry, the database used by the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC). Combat Registry also compiles UFC rankings, and did so for Bellator prior to its absorption.

The rankings are voted on my an independent panel of journalists and "industry experts", though the promotion did not reveal panelists by name.

Check out the initial launch rankings below:

Men's pound-for-pound​

1. Usman Nurmagomedov (20-0, 1 NC)
2. Vadim Nemkov (20-2)
3. Corey Anderson (20-6, 1 NC)
4. Costello Van Steenis (17-3)
5. Shamil Musaev (20-0-1)
6. Johnny Eblen (16-1)
7. Thad Jean (11-0)
8. AJ McKee (23-2)
9. Sergio Pettis (25-7)
10. Paul Hughes (14-3)

Bantamweight​

1. Sergio Pettis (25-7)
2. Raufeon Stots (21-3)
3. Taylor Lapilus (23-4)
4. Magomed Magomedov (21-5)
5. Marcirley Alves da Silva (15-4)
6. Sarvajon Khamidov (16-1)
7. Ciaran Clarke (10-0)
8. Renat Khavalov (10-0)
9. Lazaro Dayron (9-0-1)
10. Lewis McGrillen (12-1)

Featherweight​

1. Timur Khizriev (18-0)
2. AJ McKee (23-2)
3. Jesus Pinedo (25-7-1)
4. Adam Borics (20-3)
5. Ibragim Ibragimov (10-0)
6. Gabriel Braga (16-3)
7. Asael Adjoudj (10-1)
8. Alexei Pergande (7-0)
9. Julio Arce (21-6)
10. Akhmed Magomedov (11-2, 1 NC)

Lightweight​

Champion: Usman Nurmagomedov

1. Archie Colgan (13-0)
2. Alfie Davis (20-5-1)
3. Gadzhi Rabadanov (26-5-2)
4. Paul Hughes (14-3)
5. Jakub Kaszuba (15-0)
6. Natan Schulte (25-5-1)
7. Jay Jay Wilson (11-2)
8. Alexander Shabliy (24-4)
9. Darragh Kelly (9-0)
10. Connor Hughes (12-3)

Welterweight​

1. Shamil Musaev (20-0-1)
2. Ramazan Kuramagomedov (13-0)
3. Thad Jean (11-0)
4. Logan Storley (18-4)
5. Abdoul Abdouraguimov (19-1, 1 NC)
6. Magomed Umalatov (18-1)
7. Florim Zendeli (11-1-1)
8. Omar Al Dafrawy (14-6)
9. Masayuki Kikuiri (11-3-1)
10. Chris Mixan (7-1)

Middleweight​

Champion: Costello Van Steenis (17-3)

1. Johnny Eblen (16-1)
2. Fabian Edwards (16-4)
3. Impa Kasanganay (19-6)
4. Jordan Newman (8-0)
5. Dalton Rosta (11-2)
6. Aaron Jeffrey (16-6)
7. Bryan Battle (12-2, 1 NC)
8. Josh Silvera (15-5)
9. Boris Atangana (8-0)
10. Haider Khan (10-1)

Light heavyweight​

Champion: Corey Anderson (20-6, 1 NC)

1. Antonio Carlos Jr. (19-6)
2. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (25-8-1)
3. Rob Wilkinson (19-4, 1 NC)
4. Simeon Powell (11-2)
5. Rasul Magomedov (8-0)
6. Luke Trainer (9-1)
7. Sullivan Cauley (8-2)
8. Emiliano Sordi (26-13-1)
9. Tyson Pedro (10-5)
10. Rafael Xavier (14-8)

Heavyweight​

Champion: Vadim Nemkov (20-2)

1. Renan Ferreira (13-5, 3 NC)
2. Oleg Popov (22-2)
3. Denis Goltsov (36-9)
4. Linton Vassell (25-10, 1 NC)
5. Rodrigo Nascimento (12-4, 1 NC)
6. Sergei Bilostenniy (14-4)
7. Slim Trabelsi (8-1)
8. Pouya Rahmani (5-0)
9. Abraham Bably (8-2)
10. Karl Williams (10-4)

Women's flyweight​

1. Dakota Ditcheva (15-0)
2. Liz Carmouche (25-8)
3. Taila Santos (22-4)
4. Sumiko Inaba (8-2)
5. Denise Kielholtz (8-5)
6. Paulina Wisniewska (6-1)
7. Jena Bishop (9-3)
8. Ariane Lipski da Silva (17-11)
9. Kana Watanabe (13-4-1)
10. Viviane Araujo (13-7)

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: PFL makes announcement that likens itself to UFC

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