UFC needs to build stars.

[Echo_Bliss]

I believe the UFC has done a terrible job of promoting itself and building stars out of winning fighters, but they're very good at building stars out of charismatic fighters and praying they keep winning. I believe both the UFC and individual fighters need to work harder to promote top winning fighters, especially champions. Imagine if UFC had put the same level of "Hollywood" into guys like GSP or Anderson or Aldo during their heyday that they've given to Brock, Jones, Ronda, and Conor? Imagine if they had gone all in, and all out with the agenda of building as many attractions as possible. They would, by now, have the ability to play Build-A-Star workshop with any "Stipe" or "Cormier" and present them as mega stars, with larger than life personalities, who's actions matter.

I don't mean going the WWE 1996 route and having every fighter be a Nick Diaz or Conor clone, who's personality is based around cockiness, sophomoric insults and barbs, and bush league behaviors. Some fighters might connect with a large base this way, but I believe most fighters can build a natural personality that is their own, which is foremost represented by their actual fighting, and backed up by their personality (not a character, not WWE, but building up their natural personality and personal charisma, communication skills, and audience engagement, etc).

I will close by saying in the 1980's, Pro Wrestling did something right the UFC is doing wrong. They could take two guys like Honkey Tonk Man and Jim Brunzel (who, I guess the MMA equals would be Jason Guida vs Chad Griggs) and approach the entire thing as though it's the most important thing happening this Saturday, and you MUST see it, because the stakes are real and it's the deal. UFC struggles to build guys who have the ability to be over.

 

[JayJayFrench]

Jumping Jim Brunzel, you dirty casual.

 

[PEDS Help me Post]

According to the UFC, the stars need to promote themselves.


Don't worry, we got Dana White's Cantender Series and TUF to bring in that high-level talent.

 

[Frank23]

I will close by saying in the 1980's, Pro Wrestling did something right the UFC is doing wrong. They could take two guys like Honkey Tonk Man and Jim Brunzel (who, I guess the MMA equals would be Jason Guida vs Chad Griggs) and approach the entire thing as though it's the most important thing happening this Saturday, and you MUST see it, because the stakes are real and it's the deal.

That comparison is an insult to The Honky Tonk Man and Jim Brunzel.

 

[bufetadanacara]

Just have proper rankings and have top fighters compete more than once a year.

They also use big names for shitty fight nights, stack the PPV's and bring back some fans.

 

[JDragon]

The UFC 'just' needs to bring back the feeling the UFCs from, say, UFC 70 through 115 gave me, and I'll be fine.

 

[Flokk]

Dana White is a massive gas nebulae and Sherbros provide the component atoms.

I say we get some fission going and make stars outchea.

 

[JayJayFrench]

Dana White is a massive gas nebulae and Sherbros provide the component atoms.

I say we get some fission going and make stars outchea.

What this guy said, but louder and in English.

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

"Fighters need to build themselves, it's not UFC's responsibility!!"

Then the same people wonder why the hot prospect who's charismatic but stuck on the prelims and never gets mentioned isn't popular.

 

[SpiderCrawl]

They don’t, they need to let the fans decide who they like, not shove fighters down our throats. Building stars is for WWE, let it be natural.

 

[RyuHayabusa]

Lol building stars is to entice casual fans, something we dont give a shit about.

Any hammer fist to the back of the head is good stuff

 

[Quietus]

It needs to be organic, that's what they're getting wrong. Push someone as they start getting impressive wins, not prematurely. The way they do it now, they just pick fighters that they think are marketable and push them before they've proven themsevles (Sage, Paige, Cynthia, Ngannou, etc) and all the pressure is on them to win every fight. Then if they don't live up to the hype the fans turn their backs on them, where as if its an organic rise to popularity (Platinum Perry, for example) they won't be defined by a loss or two.

 

[MilesAbove]

They legitimately don't know how

 

[Echo_Bliss]

That comparison is an insult to The Honky Tonk Man and Jim Brunzel.

I am referring to their name value to the average audience, not the actual talent. If I were referring to actual talent, I would be very tempted to bring up GSP-Shields.

 

[Echo_Bliss]

I do feel that there are too many events, and the saturation isn't helping build stars, rather it divides the star power too thin.

 

[MilesP4P]

I believe the UFC has done a terrible job of promoting itself and building stars out of winning fighters, but they're very good at building stars out of charismatic fighters and praying they keep winning. I believe both the UFC and individual fighters need to work harder to promote top winning fighters, especially champions. Imagine if UFC had put the same level of "Hollywood" into guys like GSP or Anderson or Aldo during their heyday that they've given to Brock, Jones, Ronda, and Conor? Imagine if they had gone all in, and all out with the agenda of building as many attractions as possible. They would, by now, have the ability to play Build-A-Star workshop with any "Stipe" or "Cormier" and present them as mega stars, with larger than life personalities, who's actions matter.

I don't mean going the WWE 1996 route and having every fighter be a Nick Diaz or Conor clone, who's personality is based around cockiness, sophomoric insults and barbs, and bush league behaviors. Some fighters might connect with a large base this way, but I believe most fighters can build a natural personality that is their own, which is foremost represented by their actual fighting, and backed up by their personality (not a character, not WWE, but building up their natural personality and personal charisma, communication skills, and audience engagement, etc).

I will close by saying in the 1980's, Pro Wrestling did something right the UFC is doing wrong. They could take two guys like Honkey Tonk Man and Jim Brunzel (who, I guess the MMA equals would be Jason Guida vs Chad Griggs) and approach the entire thing as though it's the most important thing happening this Saturday, and you MUST see it, because the stakes are real and it's the deal. UFC struggles to build guys who have the ability to be over.

Great thread with a well thought out opening post!

I also would like to add my own personal opinion. I think the UFC has a marketing issue for the same reason they have a fighter pay issue. It simply boils down to the company wanting to invest the minimum and receive the maximum , in terms of finances.

It would cost them thousands to build up fighters and help them develop characters around their natural personalities, which is absolute chump change in the grand scheme of things. Just like it would be chump change for them to pay fighters their worth, but they much rather the current business model of putting the minim in and hoping for the maximum in return.

I think the UFC has a short sighted vision. Currently fighters are underpaid, under invested in and the cards are under whelming to say that least, its common now days to look at a PPV card and only care about 2 fights out of 12 lol. I think all these issues stem from the UFC's current business model.

 

[Draxton]

Bullshit. UFC needs to do what they always did. Put on good fights. The stars will rise naturally. When you try to push and make someone a star it backfires. Paige, Sage, Kevin Lee, Mike Perry, they pushed them hard and people rejected them because of it.

Conor, Tito, Rampage, GSP, Anderson... they just kicked a lot of ass and had the natural “it factor” that made them huge.

When you try to push someone because they have a look or style and do t have the “it factor” it usually backfires.

 

[Njmma209]

Colby is doing well at self promoting himself. After his next win he’s gonna blow up and become the new heel to casuals.

Mike perry was close to reaching stardom if he KOed Ponzi. Then he regressed and lost to max griffin.

Besides that their aren’t many guys on the current roster close to becoming a PPV draw.

 

[Filter909]

Barberena is only known because he gave Sage his first loss. Holm is most famous for beating Rousey. Beating those who get pushed will do wonders (so do your job and win), but unfortunately Barberena and Holm are 2-2 and 1-4 since those respective wins.
Fighters who derail hypetrains would pick up more steam if only they could continue winning. Stipe smashed Ngannou and is now considered the HW goat. But if he loses to D.C., people will stay D.C. is HW goat regardless of Stipe's title defense record. Beat the stars and you'll shine brighter; keep losing and you become a one-hit wonder.

 

[ritchest_eva]

The UFC has tried to but most of the fighters they promoted lost or haven’t lived up to the hype... you can do all you want promoting fighters but at the end of the day they gotta win