Why do UFC prospects always fail?

[Kvolcom]

From Erick Silva to everyone else. They always flop. Jon Jones is probably the only one who didn't have a big name coming into the UFC and turned out to be goat. Jon Jones was suppose to lose his debut. The other guy was the top prospect to look out for.

This is one area where Bellator owns the UFC imo Scott Coker is really good at finding the next big thing. Shit, DC(HW, LHW Champ) Romero, Rockhold(could be MW champs) Woodley(WW champ)

Why can't the UFC develop or find top prospects?

AJ Mckee shines, Erik Anders flops again..

Bellator has so many undefeated prospects. I think Ed Ruth will beat Rory and be #1 in the world at WW one day. They always have top level prospects

 

[Headkicktoleg]

Conor didn't.

 

[Rebel_LioN]

From Erick Silva to everyone else. They always flame out. Jon Jones is probably the only one who didn't have a big name coming into the UFC and turned out to be goat. Jon Jones was suppose to lose his debut.

This is one area where Bellator owns the UFC imo Scott Coker is really good at finding the next big thing. Shit, DC(HW, LHW Champ) Romero, Rockhold(could be MW champs) Woodley(WW champ)

Whenever these slimy reptilian owners of the UFC try to force someone down your throats they always end up losing due to bad karma. They treat fighters like sh*t so it’s only fitting that their plans never go as planned.

 

[Pliny Pete]

Neither did Cain

 

[mahavishnunj]

dude, just give erick silva some time to mature. he'll be in title contention in no time.

 

[Gilday]

There's been plenty of people who were nobodies before the UFC and ended up being world champions though....

 

[quantiqus]

Zabit won't

/thread

 

[Kvolcom]

Neither did Cain

Cain did sign w Coker before he signed w Dana

 

[Sweater of AV]

Give Erick a chance at least. Also there are a lot of prospects that did well. TJ, Cody, JDS etc.

 

[Kvolcom]

Conor didn't.

Conor fought in Cage Rage and was known before the UFC. 2 divison champion in Cage rage. He wasn't a prospect coming to the UFC that hadn't proven himself.

like Eric anders or Eric Silva or all these other guys they tell us are great before proving themselves.

 

[Taric]

 

[king_ebeneezer]

Conor fought in Cage Rage and was known before the UFC. 2 divison champion in Cage rage. He wasn't a prospect coming to the UFC that hadn't proven himself.

like Eric anders or Eric Silva or all these other guys they tell us are great before proving themselves.

The UFC certainly treated him like a prospect.

 

[Bombadil]

Conor didn't.

The guy is a cocain addict.

 

[KeepItRealist]

Well, some of it has to do with the UFC rushing them into big fights because they need to fill up a card like Till for instance most recently. He had the potential to generate a big fan base in the UK and they put him up against Wonderboy in the UK where he was lucky to get a decision and then put him up against Woodley simply because Woodley was inactive and wanted on a card that suited him, so after Colby refused to take the fight so soon, they needed an opponent and Till was rushed in despite him saying he shouldn't get the next title shot. It's not like boxing where prospects are given years to develop and beat up cans, if you get to the UFC and win a few fights and generate hype, you are likely being put in with a contender and you beat a couple of them then you face the champ.

In WMMA, you win one fight in the UFC and you are ranked, win two you are in title contention and win three, you are a top contender and likely title challenger. Which can happen after two or even one really. Or first in the org.

 

[Crom Cruach]

Every current champion was a prospect at one time.

The reason UFC hype trains derail (like Ngannou and Till) is they get the title shot too early. When you are in a championship match up the other guy is the finished article but you are still a prospect..

Years ago you had to go on a tear to get a title shot. Nowadays the formula is...

Get 100'000 instagram followers - check
Beat a guy who with name recognition who has come up from a lower weight class - check
Beat 1 x veteran - check
Title Shot

Win and you are the GOAT, lose and you get thrown out with the trash.

 

[quantiqus]

From Erick Silva to everyone else. They always flop. Jon Jones is probably the only one who didn't have a big name coming into the UFC and turned out to be goat. Jon Jones was suppose to lose his debut. The other guy was the top prospect to look out for.

This is one area where Bellator owns the UFC imo Scott Coker is really good at finding the next big thing. Shit, DC(HW, LHW Champ) Romero, Rockhold(could be MW champs) Woodley(WW champ)

Why can't the UFC develop or find top prospects?

It is a big difference between top prospect and hype train.

Prospects that didn't fail:
- Max
- Conor
- Jones
- Cejudo
- and many other champions or contenders who were young at some time and considered prospects

Hype trains that failed:
- Erick Silva - i know, i know, young as a 12 yo pussy - USADA, not champion material
- Ngannou - no ground game, being afraid of Lewis
- Thiago Silva - USADA, Machida era
- others

Prospects (hype trains or semi hype trains) that I believe will not fail:
- Adesanya
- Costa
- Zabit
- Volkanovski
- Bektic
- Gilespie
- Dominick Reyes
- Hernandez
- Tuivasa
Maybe not all of them will be champions, but I believe they will have a long future in UFC as top fighters, unless USADA or upset Dana or kill someone...

 

[Sweater of AV]

GSP also had an OK career.

 

[ultimateriley-o]

Your entire post is built on the belief that a loss is failure. It’s stupid. Why isn’t everyone Jon Jones ? Because Jones is a massive outlier among great athletes.

 

[Kvolcom]

GSP also had an OK career.

GSP was a known big time prospect before coming to the UFC. Actually had a win over Pete Sprat who just had beat a top 10 fighter in Robbie Lawler.

He had a name before coming to the UFC. TKO back in the day, one of the best organizations in the world. Took the UFC lightweight champion from the UFC(jens Pulver) and he got ice'd by Bang ludwing.

 

[Sweater of AV]

GSP was a known big time prospect before coming to the UFC. Actually had a win over Pete Sprat who just had beat a top 10 fighter in Robbie Lawler.

He had a name before coming to the UFC. TKO back in the day, one of the best organizations in the world. Took the UFC lightweight champion from the UFC(jens Pulver) and he got ice'd by Bang ludwing.

He was still a prospect that was coming into the UFC, many of them have a decent win or two. You might want to better explain what you're looking for. Someone with basically no name recognition? Look at Cody for instance.