Despite Two Years of Inactivity, Conor McGregor is Actually Climbing the UFC P4P Rankings…
Let’s not pretend Conor McGregor isn’t a great fighter. It’s very easy to forget that he is actually one of the most devastating featherweights of all time and the UFC’s first ever dual champion. He also possesses the most devastating left hand in the lower weight classes.
However, because he has been out of action for two years, and been acting like a total maniac in the meantime, it’s easy to forget his brilliance. Well, the UFC certainly haven’t, because the ‘Notorious’ has actually risen in the pound for pound rankings.
This slightly crazy turn of events shows that McGregor just cannot do any wrong in the organization. Khabib Nurmagamedov, who defeated Al Iaquinta to win the lightweight title, is not even in the top ten. Obviously beating a bus is more impressive than getting a decision win over the No. 11 ranked lightweight.
How it Works
The UFC pound for pound rankings is an odd system. They’re generated by a voting panel of media members who pick the fighters they believe to be the best in the organization. The main stipulation is that a fighter has to be active to be considered.
McGregor has not fought in the octagon since 2016 when he beat Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight title. Since then he’s crossed over to boxing and fought Floyd Mayweather. The point is that he is totally fit but hasn’t fought for two years. Yet somehow the panel saw fit to move him up one place to 3rd overall.
Total Joke
To make matters worse, the April 23rd update shows that Khabib Nurmagamedov has actually gone dropped a place to No. 9 overall. This is despite stretching his incredible unbeaten record to 26-0 and becoming the UFC lightweight champion. There are actually no words for how stupid this is.
At least Ronda Rousey is no longer on the table. It looks like the UFC have accepted that she’s never going to fight in MMA again. The former bantamweight champion recently made her WWE debut and looks set to have a long career there.
However, Georges St. Pierre is still sitting comfortably at No. 2. There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the future of the Canadian superstar. He vacated his middleweight title as he recovers from colitis and it is unknown whether or not he’ll fight again.
Desperate
What this shows is just how desperate the UFC is for a new big star. Conor McGregor is unreliable yet they’re clearly in need of his return. The Notorious can do no wrong in their eyes because he’s worth so much money to the organization. Don’t be surprised if he overtakes ‘Mighty Mouse’ in the next rankings. The full list can be seen below:
- Demetrious Johnson (Flyweight)
- Georges St. Pierre (Middleweight)
- Stipe Miocic (Heavyweight)
- Conor McGregor (Lightweight)
- Daniel Cormier (Light-Heavyweight)
- Max Holloway (Featherweight)
- TJ Dillashaw (Bantamweight)
- Tyron Woodley (Welterweight)
- Khabib Nurmagamedov (Lightweight)
- Cris Cyborg (Featherweight)
- Tony Ferguson (Lightweight)
- Amanda Nunes (Bantamweight)
- Robert Whittaker (Middleweight)
- Cody Garbrandt (Bantamweight)
- Rose Namajunas (Strawweight)
