I was thinking about that recently. We see Henderson, Shogun, Big Nog, Little Nog, we see all those fighters over and over again. Frank Mir. And so on. I mean, seriously, these guys are legends but at the same time I ask myself if they are really "worth" of being main event fighters at this point. Are they really the best fighters of their respective weight class or is it just that they have a name and therefore name value. So the cards sell better if we see a name we already know. Sometimes I wonder if there are a lot of better fighters but they never get the chance. Maybe they do not even fight in the UFC but they just don't get the opportunity. If anybody wants to tell me that Shogun or Henderson or Mir are anywhere near the best fighters in the world in 2015, I call them crazy.
They're not, the UFC is using them in main event slots as a platform to hold more events and build up other fighters in these events. TBH I'd rather see two "no-names" headline these cards, with the vets first fight on a PPV but the UFC would never do that.
Main events have little to do with fighting ability or skill. "worth" = can the UFC use their name to make money.
I really don't like seeing older fighters used to build up younger guys and up and comers, but the UFC does do it alot.
It is certainly a Art form and it sells to a degree. They are letting these dudes fight forever despite suffering brutal Ko's Hendo just refuses to stop fighting so what are you going to do? All it takes is one win and they are back " in the Mix " They have tooooo many fighters and tooo many water cards to develop talent. Anyone can headline a card these days since there are like 2500 per year!