In a nutshell, MMA fighters are NOT great fighters. There are few and far between. Most are at a decently high level, but when supposed best in the division champions are getting KO'd something silly after a couple title defenses it only waters down the parity that there still is in MMA. Is that better for the fan? Sure, it makes for unpredictable fights, but ti sit here and say, all these guys are great because anyone can win is disingenuous, when we all know that the "great" fighters in any sport find a way to overcome adversity and still win. If you have champions that are losing because they had a lapse of concentration, didn't train as hard and or are losing in one sided contests, it's because the divisions just aren't as great as some would like to think they are.
The UFC os a monster hype machine that turned itself into a multi billion dollar enterprise convincing many people of just that. Being the monopolists they are I would love to see a group of promoter/managers that figured out a way to make the MMA fighters more money by lining up their own fights in venues they covered themselves and go the way boxers do and tell Dana White and his croonies to go fuck themselves. I think the pitch wouldn't be too hard. You can now promote whatever brand you want to, get as many sponsors as you want, wear whatever you want, commercials everything without the UFCs intervention. And be called a true World Champion fighting g anyone from any promotion anywhere in the world. Imagine guys like Cain Velasquez, Overeem, John Jones, and even GSP in his comeback saying fuck it, I know my marketing power, I don't need the UFC. Shit even Brock or maybe Honda vs Cyborg finally.
