The motivation behind this project is to compile a dataset of matches from past UFC events. The data collection was performed via web scraping using Python and Beautiful Soup.
The purpose of this project was to create a data-driven animation showing the changes in UFC fighter rankings over time. The Ultimate Fighting Championship rankings was first introduced in February 2013. The votes are generated by a panel of media members. The media members are asked to vote for who they feel are the top fighters in the UFC by weight class and pound-for-pound. The fighters have to be in active status the UFC in order to receive votes and not facing any disciplinary suspensions of nine months or longer. A fighter may appear in more than one weight division at a time. The champion and interim champion can be voted on for the pound-for-pound rankings, but are not voted on in their weight class since they are already considered to be in the top of their division.
Even with all the coronavirus concerns and its unforeseen circumstances, this past Wednesday’s episode of Dynamite was still an eventful and engaging show for the…