Highlights

• The UFC rankings are more like guidelines than strict rules, allowing for big names and hype to sometimes override merit.
• A new wave of UFC fighters like Steve Erceg shows the organization's willingness to overlook rankings for fresh talent in title fights.
• Dana White values action and volume above all, pushing underdog stories like Erceg's to keep fans engaged and fighters motivated.

For some time, fans have wondered what role the UFC rankings play in matchmaking. Honestly, it does feel like merit earns fighters title shots at times. But then, there are instances where big names or hype see people leapfrog the rankings. Georges St. Pierre returning after a four-year hiatus to beat Michael Bisping for the middleweight title in 2017 is a worthwhile case. Conversely, Henry Cejudo returning to lose a bantamweight title shot in 2023 to Aljamain Sterling feels like it could have been passed over.

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Either way, the rankings are fluid; a formality that's there just for the sake of making the sport seem professional. Well, that idea of meritocracy is officially over with Australian Steve Erceg being catapulted into a flyweight title fight against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301 in Brazil. However, ignoring the rankings isn't a bad thing based on how the sport has evolved and what fans -- through their ramped-up usage of social media -- want.

Why Steve Erceg Deserves His UFC Flyweight Shot Vs. Alexandre Pantoja

'Astro Boy' Is Up For A Belt With Just Three UFC Fights To His Name

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Date of Birth	Jul. 27, 1995
Age	28
Place of Birth	Australia
Year of MMA Debut	2016
Overall MMA Record	12-1

Erceg has been in the UFC for less than a year. He came in with a 9-1 record; all wins via submissions or decisions. He then got decisions over David Dvořák and Alessandro Costa, and was propelled to the belt with a smooth walk-off KO over Matt Schnell at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gaziev.

When you stack him up to Pantoja, he might be green, but he has the boxing, grappling and finessed ground game to deal with Pantoja's constant barrage of takedowns. Admittedly, while Erceg might be an underground legend on the Australian and New Zealand circuit, moving from the regional realm to the big leagues is a mighty leap. Pantoja, whose record is a dominant 27-5, is as tough a challenge as it gets.

The Brazilian has beaten Brandon Moreno (ranked 2nd), Alex Perez (ranked 8th), Manel Cape (ranked 6th) and Brandon Royval (ranked 1st) twice. The last Royval win came in Dec. 2023, so there is no real appetite for that rematch, even after Royval trumped Moreno in a decision in Feb. 2024. It is just too soon, and the UFC does not want to dilute the division. Now, the onus is on them to ensure more talent is brought in and mixed up.

In the interim, to break that stagnancy, fresh blood must be injected. Kape was pushed, but his constant injuries and issues with missing weight have deterred his progress. Amir Albazi was supposed to fight Moreno and be that Iraqi contender for the Middle Eastern market, only to get injured. While the undefeated flyweight Muhammad Mokaev wasn't assertive in his Mar. 2024 decision win over Perez -- something the 23-year-old is incensed about and flaming the UFC online after he believes they ignored his upward trajectory.

The point is, you're only as good as your last fight. Erceg does have recency bias in play, but even Pantoja himself said the Aussie would be worth it as there is nobody else. Mokaev, in particular, is not that big a draw for the vocal fans, but the Aussies and Kiwis will tune in for an Erceg who has been impressive.

They lost Alexander Volkanovski and Israel Adesanya as champions, too, so the hunger is there for new blood. This plays into Erceg's favor, as well as welterweight, Jack Della Maddalena, who starched Gilbert Burns via KO at UFC 299. The UFC has a window of opportunity, and Erceg has timed his finish perfectly to slot in. If this baptism of fire is too much for 'Astro Boy,' he is early on in his career, can learn from the loss, and come back for the belt later on.

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UFC's Fast-Tracking Has Created Superstars

Dana White's Team Is Always Seeking The Next Big Thing

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• Lightweight became tied up so badly, Islam Makhachev is offering Dustin Poirier a shot after beating a fighter outside the top 10.
• Alexandre Pantoja has beaten four out of flyweight's top 10 already, proving the division is thin.
• Alex Pereira has been in the UFC for just over two years, won two belts, headlined Madison Square Garden twice, and will do so again at the flagship UFC 300.

If it's one thing UFC CEO, Dana White, loves, it's fighters who fight. This makes superstars in his estimation. When you're down for anything, anyone at anytime, he will push you. It has been seen with 'Volk,' 'Izzy,' Kamaru Usman, and Islam Makhachev, among the many. This has led to the UFC keeping a close eye on which storylines are evolving, who is a hot prospect online, or who is just the best of whatever is available.

It led to Alex Pereira getting fast-tracked to Adesanya due to their old kickboxing rivalry. He won three fights against mid-ranked opposition, including Sean Strickland at the time. 'Poatan' then beat Adesanya for the middleweight title, lost it, and moved up to light heavyweight where he was fast-tracked again. After one win -- a close decision over Jan Błachowicz -- he then got Jiří Procházka at UFC 295 and claimed the belt.

Seriously, that is as meteoric a rise as it gets. Was he deserving of those shots? Perhaps not, but injuries to other fighters, 'Poatan' being available, and too many rematches in the divisions made him a shoo-in. This is also why Marlon 'Chito' Vera got to fight Sean O'Malley at UFC 299 -- availability and their past rivalry.

Erceg is in a remixed spot, even being an unknown, because flyweight has recycled too many of the same fights involving Pantoja, Moreno, Royval, and former champ, Deiveson Figueiredo. The latter of which White is glad to now have in bantamweight to freshen two divisions up.

Interestingly, Strickland himself benefited from this push. No one was free to fight Adesanya at UFC 293 in Australia. Strickland went in, beat him from pillar to post and won over the home crowd. Strickland then went to UFC 297 in Canada and the same thing happened. Strickland did lose the middleweight strap to Dricus du Plessis, but his online following has grown exponentially.

He is now a name being bandied about for a shot again, as folks love his willingness to scrap anywhere -- a life not even DDP is about. The point is, the UFC monitors for these gaps in the fanbase. Erceg keeps the Aussie market open, and keeps the ball rolling in terms of mystique and unpredictability. No one wants a boring product, after all, making this a stark statement for fighters to stay fit, active and win in style -- things that would win fans and matchmakers over.

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UFC Is Moving Past Rankings Squatting

Mixing Up Fights Creates Underdog Success Stories

• Ilia Topuria has graced the cover of Marca magazine and got honored in a Real Madrid match.
• Sean O'Malley has become an online sensation, working with top brands such as Happy Dad.
• Israel Adesanya even has his own documentary out called 'Stylebender.'

The concept of rankings squatting has plagued the UFC. Welterweight had it bad with guys like Colby Covington waiting for shots. Even Jorge Masvidal cherry-picked, so he could get two against Usman, although his first one was a short-notice the UFC needed. Middleweight had it, as seen with so many Adesanya rematches against Robert Whittaker, Marvin Vettori and Pereira.

Featherweight did too, with a slew of 'Volk' and Max Holloway scraps. Lightweight had it for a bit, but the squatting ended with the likes of Justin Gaethje beating Rafael Fiziev and Dustin Poirier; Poirier fighting backwards and beating Benoit Saint-Denis; and Charles Oliveira beating Beneil Dariush and now taking on Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300. In a volatile sport like this, to ensure there is an allure, the company must have athletes fighting backwards, and give lower-ranked guys higher shots.

It doesn't need to be title shots, necessarily, but it is the only way to blood new contenders in -- a problem the UFC women's flyweight division is having as it relies on a third Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko bout to keep interest running. But by allowing guys like Erceg to get their underdog moments, it encourages fighters to be more adventurous. White likes action and volume, and he will parlay this into potential success for such athletes.

Granted, you could end up stuck in the mud such as Belal Muhammad or Dariush, who didn't get title shots despite long win streaks. But if Erceg is indicative that there will be more exceptions to the rule, that is a positive step forward. Ultimately, the age of rankings is over because they do nothing but stagnate divisions and create unnecessary arguments. The UFC is a gladiator arena with prizefighting as the priority.

In a sport so fluid, injury-prone and clogged at times, the company simply cannot dwell on ratings, not with such a high fight turnover and the incessant need for the next big thing. Who knows? Erceg may end up being the next Ilia Topuria. And as White would admit, someone who is ranked 10th suddenly claiming gold will be best for business, in and out of the octagon.