The UFC is at a crossroads.
Ronda Rousey, one of its two biggest stars, has lost two fights in a row and might never return. Conor McGregor, the biggest draw in the sport’s history, is in no hurry to return to the Octagon. Its early offerings in 2017 have been underwhelming at best and downright bad at worst. The schedule looks like it will pick up in the second quarter of the year, but it’s still on pace to lag far behind 2015 and 2016.
What can the promotion do to right the ship?
It still has a tremendous amount of talent on its roster, and if put together in compelling matchups, there’s no reason the ship can’t be turned around. In this piece, we’ll take a look at the seven best fights the UFC could put together, from a returning Georges St-Pierre to McGregor himself. We’ll weigh marketability alongside pure stylistic joy, seeking a balance of fun and profit.
Let’s take a look at each fight.