Dominick Cruz has an concept of how the UFC rankings are actually made.
For years, followers have questioned the methodology behind the official rankings, with the UFC sustaining a murky panel of media members (a few of that are obscure or outright inactive) and UFC CEO Dana White often criticizing them.
In an interview on Demetrious Johnson’s MightyCast, Cruz defined that the quantity subsequent to a fighter’s identify has extra to do with the numbers on their newest contract versus their in-cage efficiency.
“My expertise, the best way the rankings are made are based on the way you wrote your contract final,” Cruz stated. “So if I wrote a giant contract to battle you and I renegotiate at battle No. 4 after which they ask me for a favor to battle you on one week’s discover for a title, I’ve a chance to renegotiate my contract and I can in all probability get a superb chunk. So let’s say I negotiate very well and I stand up to extra money than anyone within the division after which I lose to you. I’m nonetheless making that cash.”
“Now that they’re paying me, you’re telling me, I simply misplaced, they’re going to present me No. 10 now?” Cruz continued. “However I’m being profitable to battle for a title. They’re not going to pay me title cash [for that], by no means. You see what I imply? In order that’s the true rating is how a lot your contract is written for.”
Cruz, who retired from competitors in February, was within the championship pay bracket for years because the UFC’s reigning bantamweight champion. Accidents restricted his bookings, however he competed in a number of high-profile bouts with the likes of Urijah Faber, Cody Garbrandt, T.J. Dillashaw, and Henry Cejudo.
It’s his understanding that even when a present fighter on the high of the rankings begins to droop, the UFC matchmakers will proceed to present them big-name opponents to get a return on their funding.
“Even when I misplaced the title, even when I misplaced two in a row, they’re nonetheless giving me high 5 as a result of I’m getting paid a lot they need to see me get beat to dying for that cash,” Cruz stated.
Cruz and Johnson then had a quick dialogue about whether or not MMA on the UFC stage ought to nonetheless be thought of a sport, given the seemingly capricious nature of the rankings and the way that may have an effect on a fighter’s profession. “Mighty Mouse” has lengthy argued that it’s extra leisure than sport at that time, however Cruz believes it’s nonetheless a sport primarily based on the shared settlement that each one athletes have after they determine to step into the cage.
“As soon as a fighter can give up to the truth that rankings aren’t primarily based off your ability, it’s primarily based off of who desires to observe you, then you definitely’re ranked. … I feel that also makes it a sport, it’s simply wrapped in a unique bundle and we’re all OK with it or we’re not,” Cruz stated. “I nonetheless signed up. I’m nonetheless right here. I’m nonetheless going to do it. I’m nonetheless going to signal.”
