Alessandro Costa is heading into UFC 329 with questions about the UFC’s new AI-generated rankings system.
The promotion recently rolled out divisional rankings created by Meta using fighter stats and artificial intelligence, which now sit alongside the traditional media panel lists that are expected to be phased out at a later date. In the AI flyweight rankings, Kevin Borjas jumped from unranked to No. 10 despite a recent skid, while Costa remains unranked despite a three-fight winning streak and a recent stoppage win over Borjas.
“The ranking is a bit confusing, this new Meta ranking,” Costa said. “It's very confusing. Just being sincere with you, it's not like my main objective is to get in the rankings because now you can just get in or out of the rankings out of nowhere. Right now it's very confusing, but I do have like two or three fights I'm eyeing from the top 10 and below. So yeah, I'm sure after this win I can crack the rankings, and then I can get a good fight.”
Costa made it clear he favors the old system. “One hundred percent the one that was before (was better), just being honest with you,” he said. “One hundred percent the one we previously had. I think it made a bit more sense. I feel like it's a little more just, but let's see; it is new.”
Costa, 16-5 in MMA and 4-3 in the UFC, faces Cody Durden (18-10-1 MMA, 7-8-1 UFC) in the first fight of the night at UFC 329. He is also open to a quick turnaround, saying, “In September, the UFC is doing their Noche UFC event, and I'm not discarding the idea of fighting on that card again.”
