By Evan Stoumbelis

UFC middleweight title contender Vitor ‘The Phenom’ Belfort dropped in the UFC’s official rankings from the #2 slot to #3. Lyoto Machida stepped into the #2 spot after it was announced that, due to the recent TRT ban, Belfort would not be competing for the title against champion Chris Weidman, and as a result, Machida moved into the #2 slot.

Belfort took to his official Facebook page to express his feelings on the issue saying:

In any kind of sport, the ranking is defined by the results of the athletes in competition. My team and I worked very hard so I could be well placed in the UFC ranking. For this reason, I understand that there is lack of plainness on the UFC validation criteria of these rankings, mostly when we see athletes improving their positions without competing. I was in the second place and now I’m in third, even though there were no fights in that interim. Clear criteria fortify the sport.