MMA rankings report: Why one UFC 248 title-fight loser drops but not the other

UFC 248 this past weekend featured a pair of title fights on opposite ends of each other in terms of entertainment value, but their impacts on this week’s USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings is definitely felt.

In the main event, Israel Adesanya remained undefeated with a lackluster unanimous decision win over Yoel Romero to retain the middleweight title. And in the co-main event, Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk had an instant classic, with the champion retaining the strawweight title after a narrow split decision.

One of those losing fighters dropped in their respective division’s rankings, while the other stayed put.

Hear from rankings chair “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” of MMA Junkie Radio as they discuss this and other UFC 248 results with rankings implications in the latest edition of the MMA rankings report.