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Ranking System - Nogipedia
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How Rankings Work

Introduction

The Nogipedia ranking system combines points-based scoring with Elo-style opponent adjustments to measure skill, consistency, longevity, and strength of competition. Each athlete's rating begins with objective event points earned from wins and draws, then is refined by win rate, submission rate, and opponent quality—rewarding those who beat stronger competition. Our system is transparent, promotion-agnostic, and stats-driven: no subjective opinions, just objective data.

Core Scoring Components

  1. Base Points: Every win earns base points. Later rounds (Semi-finals, Final) give significantly more points than early rounds (Round of 16, Round of 8). Championship fights (title matches) at top-tier events are also given a base points boost to reflect their importance.
  2. Event Tier Multiplier: Higher-prestige events (e.g., ADCC, UFC BJJ) multiply points more than regional shows. Events are categorized into tiers ranging from S, A, B, C, to D (highest to lowest), with tier determination considering factors such as how difficult it is to qualify or gain entry into an event, in addition to its prestige and level of competition.
  3. Opponent Quality (Elo-style): Each match's points include an Elo-style multiplier based on opponent strength at a particular time. Beating a higher-rated opponent boosts points; beating a much lower-rated opponent reduces points.
  4. Draws: Draws also award points! When a match ends in a draw, the total match points are split evenly between both athletes, then divided by 2 again (each athlete receives 1/4 of the original match points). This ensures that draws in high-tier events are meaningful and reward both competitors for their performance, while still giving a clear advantage to decisive wins.
  5. Win Rate Multiplier: Total points are multiplied by win rate, ensuring consistent winners rise to the top.
  6. Submission Rate Multiplier: Because submissions are the ideal outcome in jiu-jitsu, finishers are rewarded via a positive adjustment based on their submission rate in the final rating calculation.

How Ratings Are Calculated

• per-match points (win) = base_points × event_multiplier × belt_multiplier × time_decay_multiplier × elo_multiplier
• per-match points (draw) = ⌈(base_points × event_multiplier × belt_multiplier × time_decay_multiplier) ÷ 4⌉ × elo_multiplier
• athlete_points = Σ(per-match points for all wins and draws)
• final_rating = athlete_points × win_rate × (1 + submission_rate)

Additional Factors

  • Colored Belt Matches: Matches at colored belt divisions use a belt_multiplier that reduces points compared to black belt matches, reflecting the different skill levels and competition standards.
  • Time Decay: Each match's points are reduced based on the match's age using a simple discrete schedule. More recent matches contribute more points, while older matches contribute less. This per-match decay ensures rankings reflect current performance levels and rewards athletes who are winning now, without completely erasing past accomplishments.

Weight Classes

Our divisions follow the UFC weight class system, making them instantly recognizable and easy to understand. Athletes often compete across multiple weight classes throughout their careers. An athlete can belong to multiple weight classes if they have competed in different divisions. We assign each athlete to the appropriate weight class buckets based on their competition history and typical weight, though this classification is subject to change as their career evolves.

Ranking Categories

Rankings are organized into several categories to give you different perspectives on athlete performance. We compute rankings for the top 50 overall, and the rankings page displays the top 20 in each table.

  • Pound for Pound: Compares final ratings across all weight classes, identifying the best athletes regardless of size
  • Weight Class Rankings: Divided by sex and weight class
  • Legend Rankings: For retired athletes whose performances and accomplishments left a lasting impact on the sport. These rankings are absolute (no weight divisions).
  • Coach Rankings: Ranks coaches based on the sum of all their students' ratings - the coach of a student is someone who has had a significant impact on their skillset
  • Team Rankings: Aggregates affiliated athletes' ratings to show which teams produce the most successful competitors
  • Submission Rankings: Most effective submissions based on total count used in no-gi history

Transparency & Updates

The rules are public, inputs are traceable, and updates are explainable. As new events and matches are added, rankings refresh automatically. Explore the latest rankings to see where athletes and teams stand today.

Our methodology is subject to change based on feedback from the community. We're always looking to improve the system to better reflect athlete performance. If you have suggestions for how we can improve the ranking algorithm, submit a form to share your ideas.