MMA is a very young sport comparatively speaking...
Saying "majority of fighters were nobodies" could literally apply to almost every major champion in every major combat sport.
Let's take boxing for example:
These champion boxers had long, decorated careers with many professional fights, and they each held world titles in one or more weight divisions.
You're not really making a point. No fighter can come onto the scene with a long list of well known names on their record.
You have to start from somewhere and when you're from a tiny mountain village, you're guaranteed to be fighting "no name" fighters.