Obeying rankings doesn't legitimize the sport at all.
You know what legitimizes the sport? Getting people to care about it. Getting the mainstream sports world to talk about it and give a shit about it.
McGregor has done more to legitimize MMA than anyone at this point.
McGregor v Aldo, McGregor v Diaz 1/2 and McGregor v Alvarez were huge events in terms of the popular culture at large actually giving a fuck about MMA.
The idea that rankings must determine matchmaking for the sport to be legitimate is farcical. Never has been the case, never will be. Welcome to combat sports.
