Fighters who've not headlined a PPV before UFC 157

[iThrillhouse]

So in light of the news that Liz Carmouche (7-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will be fighting Rounda Rousey (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) for her Bantamweight championship belt at UFC 157 on PPV.

This should be an entertaining matchup but I can't believe how two fighters with no UFC octagon experience, no UFC ledger, are just being given a UFC PPV headliner spot. I can't tell if Dana White is serious about womens mma or if this is the biggest White Knighting in the history of ever.

Lets all collaborate on fighters who have been in the UFC longer than these two debut fighters that have yet to headline a PPV!


The big one that stands out to me is

Chan Sung Jung
"the Korean Zombie"
13-3 MMA
3-0 UFC

fastest knockout in UFC FW division
first & only Twister submission in UFC history
has headlined a fuelTV card, but has yet to headline a PPV. Depiste putting on epic fights in every showing he's had.


Was trying to think what other great fighters that are currently in the UFC that have yet to headline a PPV.

 

[aker2703]

huge korean zombie fan, but lets be real, until he fights for the title he will not headline a PPV.

EDIT: in the last two years these are the PPV's not headlined by a current champ.
147 silva/franklin
141 lesnar/overeem
139 shogun/hendo
137 penn/diaz
133 ortiz/rashad
130 rampage/hamill
127 penn/fitch

why have they headlined ? hint the bolded fighters

 

[van1ty]

so let me get this straight. you could have chosen guys like kampmann, ellenberger, hendricks, weidman, gustafsson, davis, bigfoot, struve, or kongo.

but you go with KZ?

 

[The Renegade]

100k buys? Maybe?

 

[Gaffeln]

Don't Nate Diaz have headlined a PPV. Kampmann, Hendricks, Pettis, Gus, Lil Nog.

 

[iThrillhouse]

so let me get this straight. you could have chosen guys like kampmann, ellenberger, hendricks, weidman, gustafsson, davis, bigfoot, struve, or kongo.

but you go with KZ?

I was at work and this was the first guy that popped into my head

huge korean zombie fan, but lets be real, until he fights for the title he will not headline a PPV.

Probalby right, which sucks considering he puts on solid performances every time.

 

[MolesyMMA]

Weidman, Hendricks.


Its because she has done good numbers in her strikeforce fights, been on covers of espn, fighters only, tatame etc. Ronda is very popular.

Everytime womens mma has been given the opportunity its come back with good numbers. Gina/Cyorg, Carmouche/Coenen (co main event and drew higher than the main event (Hendo/Fejao) All of Invicta's numbers have grown every time out and had, their first show did 233k and yes i know it was a free stream but it thats very impressive seen as it was their first show. There are many against womens mma but there are also lots of fans, sherodg doesn't speak for everyone.

Many of the fighters that will be named in this thread wont be as big of a draw than RR. The UFC is about money, becoming ever evident - GSP was just announced to be fighting Diaz and not Hendricks.

 

[Cage917r]

You would be listing a bunch of guys who have not fought for the title, and have no gripe about it. Seems ambitious to have her headline the show, but they have Hendo/Machida on that card believe, and I'm sure that fight will be pushed as a big co-main. The card will probably do in the 250K buy range, not because of Rousey, but because Machida-Hendo is a popular fight, and I'm sure they throw some other names on there. I know Faber is on the Main Card as well.

 

[Mumrik]

I'm really really curious to see how this does. I can't believe Ronda has crossed over enough to make this big. It could just as well end up hurting the UFC by making them look desperate after a period with relatively disappointing numbers.

 

[BROWNPRIDE]

Roundy will sell ppv and gus should headline after he smashes shogun

 

[BobbyD963]

Had the UFC indeed signed Fedor he would have headlined his first fight with the company and it would have been a title fight.

 

[FarCry]

I don't see how you don't understand this very simple fact. It's a CHAMPIONSHIP fight. Of course it's going to headline. The guys you name aren't champions or fighting for a title. It's common sense.

 

[PAPERCLIP30]

Mighty Mouse.