Bellator to incorporate official rankings for first time

Bellator MMA will have a divisional rankings system for the first time in promotional history.

Bellator president Scott Coker officially announced the upcoming implementation of rankings in a live interview with CBS Sports Network on Thursday. The first set of rankings will be announced prior to Bellator 255 in April.

Rankings will be voted upon after each event by a panel of 20 reporters and tallied by the MMA Registry, an independent body that oversees ABC’s official records.

The panel includes three representatives from MMA Junkie: lead staff reporter and editor John Morgan, MMA Junkie Radio’s George Garcia, and reporter Nolan King.

Rankings will be split up into divisions as well as men’s and women’s pound-for-pound lists. Ten contenders will occupy each list, with the division’s champion slotted above No. 1 – No. 10.

A fighter must have competed once for Bellator to be eligible for the rankings. Fighters are eligible for the rankings as long as they have competed at least once for Bellator in the 15 months leading up to the vote.

Retired fighters are rankings-eligible for up to 60 days following their announced retirements. Fighters are allowed to be ranked in multiple weight classes as long as they have competed in both weight classes in the past 15 months.

Bellator returns April 2 with Bellator 255 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The event will air on Showtime.