The PPV model in combat sports has hurt the sport a lot. Basically all big fights in the 21st century in both boxing and MMA have been behind a pay-wall, if all those fights would have been free on TV both sports would be much bigger now.
PPV helps to raise revenue in the short-term, but harms the exposure and interest in the sport, which in the long-run also hurts revenue. If the best of the best fights would be free on TV, ratings would be higher and the UFC would get a much better TV deal down the line, which would make up for the money they've lost in the short-term through getting rid of PPV. There is a lot of money in live sports.
UFC fighters have it the worst btw. Boxers at least get a big part of PPV sales, they basically get more money in exchange for less exposure. UFC fighters on the other hand, get less exposure because they are constantly behind a pay-wall, without actually getting a fair share of the PPV sales. The PPV points they get is nothing compared to what boxers get (and only a tiny fraction of fighters, even among big names, get PPV points).
