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Meta Rankings Shake-Up, Pimblett's Return, and Du Plessis vs. Usman

The UFC's new Meta Rankings are shaking things up, Paddy Pimblett prepares for his return, and Dricus Du Plessis explains his call-out.

Meta Rankings Shake-Up, Pimblett's Return, and Du Plessis vs. Usman

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Big news dropped this week with the unveiling of the UFC’s new Meta Rankings, a system that’s already causing some major shifts. We’re also looking ahead to UFC 329 with Paddy Pimblett’s highly anticipated return and Dricus Du Plessis shedding light on his recent challenge.

UFC Unveils New Meta Rankings

The UFC has officially launched its new ‘Meta Rankings,’ a system developed in collaboration with Meta. This new ranking method is designed to offer a fresh perspective on fighter standings, though the media rankings will remain the official ones for the foreseeable future. There’s no set date yet for when the Meta Rankings might fully take over, so for now, it’s an interesting alternative view of the landscape.

Meta Rankings Shake Up the Roster

The introduction of the Meta Rankings has already led to significant changes, with 27 fighters losing their ranked status. Among those affected are three former UFC champions, indicating a substantial shift in how the system evaluates fighters. Notably, Paddy Pimblett has seen a drop in his ranking under this new system, which is sure to spark debate among fans and analysts alike.

Pimblett’s Return at UFC 329

Paddy Pimblett is gearing up for his return to the Octagon at UFC 329, where he’s set to face Benoit Saint Denis. Pimblett recently discussed a past ‘fatal mistake’ he made against Justin Gaethje, emphasizing that he won’t repeat it in his upcoming fight. Saint Denis, for his part, has stated he won’t be looking for takedowns, believing Pimblett would submit if the fight went to the ground. Pimblett also expressed excitement for an emerging superstar on the card, believing they can make a real name for themselves.

Du Plessis Explains Usman Call-Out

Dricus Du Plessis has clarified his decision to call out Kamaru Usman, explaining his motivation for wanting that particular fight. Du Plessis’s reasoning sheds light on his strategic thinking and what he believes a victory over Usman would mean for his career trajectory. This potential matchup has certainly generated buzz, and Du Plessis’s comments add another layer to the narrative surrounding the welterweight division.

From the community

Over on r/MMA, fans are talking about this: Dricus Du Plessis will fight Kamaru Usman at #UFCOKC on July 18th.

Sources

Every source behind today's roundup (14)

We summarize the day’s news in our own words. Full credit to the outlets below for the original reporting, click through to read their work:

Open Scoring MMA is a daily AI-produced MMA and UFC news podcast. Listen to today’s episode, read the full Feed, or get every episode by email.

Episode transcript

Read the full episode transcript

Welcome to Open Scoring MMA. This is episode 6, your daily look at what’s happening now and next across the world of MMA and UFC.

Alright, let’s dive straight into the biggest news shaking up the UFC landscape right now: the introduction of the new Meta Rankings. UFC CEO Dana White has been vocal for years about his dissatisfaction with the traditional media-driven ranking system, and it looks like he’s finally made a move. On Monday, the UFC announced they’re transitioning to an AI-generated ranking system, powered by Meta. This is a massive shift, and it’s already causing a stir. Bloody Elbow reported that the new Meta UFC rankings have resulted in a huge list of names dropping out of the top fifteen, including three former UFC champions. This is a pretty dramatic overhaul, and it’s going to be interesting to see how it impacts fighter trajectories and title contention moving forward. The MMA community on Reddit is definitely having a field day with this one, debating the merits and drawbacks of an AI-driven system versus human-compiled rankings. It’s a hot topic, to say the least.

Moving on to another big fight announcement, former middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis is making his return to the Octagon. MMA Weekly and Yahoo Sports MMA both reported that Du Plessis will be in the main event of UFC Fight Night 281 on July eighteenth, facing off against former welterweight titleholder Kamaru Usman. Word is, this will be Du Plessis’ first fight since losing the title to Khamzat Chimaev last August. Usman has been calling for this fight for months, and it’s finally happening. Du Plessis explained that he wanted this fight because it’s a huge name and a chance to get back into the win column against a high-caliber opponent. It’s a classic striker versus grappler matchup, and it’s going to be a barn burner. Du Plessis is looking to re-establish himself at the top of the middleweight division, and a win over a legend like Usman would be a massive statement.

Now, let’s talk about some other fight news and roster moves. Rob Wilkinson is gearing up for his PFL San Diego fight against Abraham Bably. LowKick MMA reported that Wilkinson expects an “explosive” matchup, calling Bably an “explosive little nugget.” That’s a pretty colorful description, and it sounds like we’re in for some fireworks in that one. Over in the world of Muay Thai, Asadula Imangazaliev, “The Dagestan Ninja,” is promising a world title victory at The Inner Circle 20. ONE News reported that he’s confident he’ll leave Lumpinee Stadium with twenty-six pounds of gold this Friday. That’s a bold claim, and we’ll see if he can back it up.

We’ve also got some interesting fighter opinions floating around. Islam Makhachev has given his thoughts on Ian Machado Garry’s style ahead of UFC 330, according to BJPenn.com. It’s always insightful to hear what top-tier fighters think about their peers, and Makhachev’s perspective on Garry’s approach will definitely be worth a listen. These kinds of insights can often give us a peek into potential future matchups or just how fighters are perceived within the elite circles of the sport.

Let’s take a quick look at the odds for an upcoming headliner. We’ve got Bekzat Almakhan versus Jean Matsumoto. Jean Matsumoto is currently the betting favorite in this one, and the line has held steady since we last checked. This indicates that the oddsmakers and the betting public are pretty confident in Matsumoto’s chances, but Almakhan as an underdog could be an interesting play for those looking for a bit more value. It’s a tight matchup on paper, but the money is leaning towards Matsumoto.

Looking ahead to the next two cards, we’ve got UFC Fight Night 281 on July eighteenth, headlined by the Dricus Du Plessis versus Kamaru Usman middleweight clash we just discussed. This is a pivotal fight for both men, with Du Plessis looking to rebound from his title loss and Usman aiming to prove he can still compete at the highest level in a new weight class. The co-main event for that card hasn’t been officially announced yet, but with a main event of this caliber, you can bet it’ll be a strong supporting act. These next two cards are shaping up to be must-watch events for any MMA fan.

That’s all for today’s Open Scoring MMA. We’ll catch you next time.

Before you go, two quick things. Check out our free Fight Tracker at tracker dot open scoring m m a dot com, with every upcoming UFC and PFL card, live odds, and where to watch, all in one place. And follow us on YouTube, just search Open Scoring MMA, for breaking news alerts, fight breakdowns, and videos you won’t get here on the feed. That’s it for today’s Open Scoring MMA. Keep your hands up, and we’ll see you next time.