The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has long relied on its marquee fighters to drive pay-per-view (PPV) sales and capture the imagination of fight fans worldwide. However, a recent observation from a respected voice in the MMA community highlights a concerning trend a potential shortage of true, bankable stars among the current crop of champions. This raises significant questions about what it takes to be a „star“ in today’s UFC and whether the organization is doing enough to cultivate them.
The Enduring Reign of Champions
Daniel Cormier, a former two-division champion and now a prominent UFC commentator, has pointed out a critical gap in the promotion’s PPV power. He identifies only a select few fighters, specifically Jon Jones and Alex Pereira, as champions with the inherent ability to consistently generate massive PPV numbers. Cormier emphasizes that achieving genuine superstardom in the UFC is intrinsically linked to holding a championship belt for an extended period. He draws parallels to legendary figures like Anderson Silva and his own impressive championship runs, noting that such prolonged dominance is increasingly rare in the current landscape. The sport’s intensified pace and fierce competition make it incredibly challenging for any fighter to maintain a long-term reign at the top.
The Challenge of Short-Term Champions
Cormier’s analysis suggests that fighters who capture titles but don’t hold onto them for long durations struggle to build the same level of sustained fan interest and commercial appeal. While fighters like Sean O’Malley are undeniably exciting and possess charisma, their impact on PPV sales, according to this perspective, is limited without a history of successful title defenses. Beyond Jones and Pereira, other highly skilled champions such as Zhang Weili, Alexandre Pantoja, and Islam Makhachev, while dominant in their divisions, haven’t yet translated that dominance into comparable PPV draw. This doesn’t diminish their athletic prowess but points to a potential disconnect between in-cage performance and the broader appeal needed to become a true mainstream attraction.
The Crucial Role of Promotion and Narrative
The UFC’s promotional efforts, or at times, lack thereof, play a significant role in the rise and fall of potential stars. Even the most talented fighters can fade into obscurity if they lack compelling narratives or consistent spotlight. Cormier argues that a fighter’s marketability is directly tied to their ability to defend their title multiple times. The example of Israel Adesanya is particularly telling; his championship reigns were marked by highly anticipated bouts that commanded significant PPV buys. However, once he lost his title, his drawing power diminished considerably, reinforcing the idea that sustained dominance is key to maintaining a fighter’s „star“ status. As the UFC gears up for major events like UFC 309 and UFC 307, all eyes will be on how these current champions perform and whether they can elevate their profiles beyond their impressive fight records.
