People are sometimes surprised that a fighter with a KBN profile and verified wins is missing from the tables. The reason is almost always one of four eligibility conditions. Understanding them explains most "where is my fighter?" questions.
The four conditions
- Status is licensed: the fighter has a KBN Fighter ID and licence issued at stage 5.
- Ranking is published: KBN World HQ has completed stage 6.
- Not suspended: a suspended licence removes the fighter from every table immediately.
- Points above zero: at least one verified result with a positive value in the last 24 months.
A fighter missing any one of these does not appear.
What publication (stage 6) does
Stage 6 is "Ranking publication & certificate". Only KBN World HQ can do it. When HQ publishes:
- The fighter's ranking_published flag is set.
- A Certificate of Official World Ranking is issued with a number in the format KBN-WR-{yy}-{6 digits}.
- Ranking caches are cleared so the fighter appears in world, continental and national tables immediately.
- The fighter is e-mailed with their documents.
- The action is recorded in the audit log.
Common situations
| Situation | Why not ranked |
|---|---|
| Applicant in review | Not licensed yet; profile shows "In review" and no points |
| Licensed but not published | Stage 6 not completed by HQ |
| Suspended | Removed from tables until reinstated |
| All results older than 24 months | Points are 0 |
| Results pending verification | Pending bouts do not count |
| Only results at events without a KBN level | Those bouts score 0 until HQ sets a level |
Applicants on the public site
Applicants in review can appear in the fighter directory with an "In review" status and a stage tracker, but never with points or a rank. KBN never shows applicants an estimated total; points exist only after verification.
Why publication is separate from licensing
Licensing (stage 5) confirms identity and that the athlete's results have been verified and calculated. Publication (stage 6) is the formal act of adding the athlete to the official ranking and issuing the certificate. Keeping them separate lets HQ do a final check before a new name appears in a world table, and it keeps both powers with KBN World HQ rather than branches.
The six stages of an application โ
After publication
Once published, the fighter stays in the tables as long as the four conditions hold. They move as results are added and as older results age. The verify page shows their current status and ranks.
Checklist for athletes who expect to be ranked
- Open your fighter portal: is your licence active?
- Has stage 6 been completed? Your certificate appears in Documents once it has.
- Are your results verified, not pending?
- Are they within 24 months?
- Are they at events with a KBN level?
If all five answers are yes and you still do not appear, contact your branch.
Myths and facts
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| A licence means you are ranked | You must also be published, not suspended and above zero points |
| Branches publish rankings | Only KBN World HQ publishes |
| Publication is permanent regardless of status | Suspension removes a fighter from tables while it lasts |
| Applicants appear with estimated points | Applicants show "In review" and no points |
What happens to documents at publication
At stage 6, KBN World HQ issues the Certificate of Official World Ranking with a number in the format KBN-WR-{yy}-{6 digits}. The fighter is e-mailed with their documents, and the licence and certificate become available in the fighter portal. Both render live values from the register when opened, and PDFs record their generation time.
What happens if something changes later
If a result is later annulled, an event re-graded or a licence suspended, the tables change immediately and the change is logged. The certificate states the position at issue; the verify page always shows the current status. Athletes are informed of changes that affect their own position.
Frequently asked questions
QMy licence is active. Why am I not ranked?
Check that your ranking has been published (stage 6) and that you have verified results from the last 24 months with points above zero.
QCan a branch publish my ranking?
No. Only KBN World HQ can publish rankings and issue certificates.
QDoes a suspension delete my ranking?
It removes you from the tables while suspended. Your verified record remains, and if the licence is reinstated you return to the tables.
QDo I appear in the table immediately after publication?
Yes. Publication clears the ranking caches, so the tables update at once.
Figures in this article are computed from the KBN register at the time of reading. View, like and share counters on this demo site are sample values.